Maurkice Pouncey has fractured ankle, will miss at least the first two months of the season

Center Maurkice Pouncey suffered a broken ankle in today’s 24-19 preseason win over the Green Bay Packers.

The injury will require surgery and Pouncey may need a plate inserted.

“On the injury front, Maurkice Pouncey has an ankle injury and we’ve evaluated it,” Mike Tomlin said afterwards. “It’s probably going to be surgical, but I don’t know the length of time he will be out. We will analyze that after he has the procedure done.”

Will Pouncey be lost for the season for the second time in three years?

According to a club official, early diagnosis on Pouncey has the Steelers believing Pouncey will be out for a minimum of 8-10 weeks which will certainly have the Steelers placing Pouncey on short-term injured reserve.

If surgery reveals the current 8-10 week time frame, the best case scenario, Pouncey would be forced to sit out the first eight weeks of the season. After six weeks of the regular season, he could start practicing and once a player on designated IR does hit the practice field, it starts a 21-day clock where the team has to decide to activate the player or shut them down.

Cody Wallace for now becomes the Steelers starting center.