Diesel in the Shop

Brett Keisel, aka "The Diesel" aka "The Beard" is questionable for this weekend's Sunday night showdown with the Colts in Indianapolis. Brett was diagnosed with a grade one PCL sprain in his knee and is questionable at best to play at all in week three.

The PCL, Posterior Cruciate Ligament is located in the knee joint and is a very common injury in sports. A grade one sprain simply means that the ligament has been over-strectched, usually due to an outside force. The ligament does not require surgury because the ligament is still strong enough to keep the knee joint stable. Basically the Steelers could be without Keisel for as little as a week all the way up to four or more, although it does not appear that severe.

In the absence of Keisel the Steelers will most likely start "Ziggy" Hood with a handy helping of rookie first rounder Cameron Heyward. Hood is in his third year with the Steelers after being drafted 32nd overall in 2008 out of Mizzou. He has started nine games in his career, all of those last season for the injured Aaron Smith. In his career, including the first two games of this season, Hood has recorded 29 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 passes defended and a fumble recovery.

Heyward is very similar to Hood. He was drafted in the first round, 31st overall the year after a Steeler Super Bowl appearance. Heyward had an impressive camp and played great during the preseason. He has played very little so far this season, in two career games he has recorded one tackle.

I don't expect the injury to be much more than the result of no competitive off season. People will bring up the age and bicker about cleaning house but I will stand by the veteran. The Steelers have a history of filling amazing talent with great young talent and we all know that Ziggy can play. The Steelers will be fine, besides the Colts are not the Colts we are used too.