Steelers – Tuesday: DeCastro likely to start at RG vs Cowboys; Injury concerns at CB

Willie Colon’s season appears to be over as the Steelers starting left guard underwent surgery on his left knee Monday. Colon will be sidelined for several weeks and isn’t likely to return this season. A determination on whether he goes on injured reserve will be made in the next day or so, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said today at his weekly press conference.

Colon’s injury will give the coaching staff a easy decision on the guard position as first round pick David DeCastro has progressed enough to be in play for this week.

Tomlin wouldn’t fully committ to DeCastro starting but all signs point to DeCastro making his first career start on Sunday vs Cowboys. Tomlin said the plan would be to move Ramon Foster over to left guard and the coaching staff appears to have come to their senses and will be leaving Maurkice Pouncey at center. Tomlin said today it is not ideal to play Pouncey out of his position against Cowboys DT Jay Ratliff. The Steelers starting offensive line on Sunday projects to be LT Max Starks – LG Ramon Foster – C Maurkice Pouncey – RG David DeCastro – RT Kevlvin Beachum and they could have their hands full against the Cowboys front-seven that Tomlin says might have the two best outside linebackers in the game in DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer.

CONCERNS AT CB?

Could the Steelers top three cornerbacks on Sunday be Curtis Brown, Josh Victorian and DeMarcus Van Dyke?

Tomlin indicated today that Keenan Lewis and Cortez Allen are both dealing with hip flexors and are questionable for Sunday’s game. Of the two, the buzz today is that Allen’s injury is a bit worse and he goes into the week more of a longshot to play than Lewis. Ike Taylor will remain out with a fractured ankle.

TIDBITS

*Tomlin indicated today that Rashard Mendenhall is not likely to be given an opportunity to play on Sunday, saying the pecking order at running back won’t change…..The Steelers expect to have LaMarr Woodley back in the lineup after missing the last two games…..Tomlin claimed today that Troy Polamalu didn’t suffer a setback….