Isaac Seumalo left Wednesday’s Pittsburgh Steelers practice early because of injury, but reportedly the ailment is not season-ending.
The team’s veteran starting left guard, Seumalo suffered an apparent pectoral injury, according to an ESPN report. Initial testing, though, suggest the injury is not severe.
Seumalo being spotted leaving practice early initially did not ring alarm bells because as a 30-something veteran, it is not uncommon for him to be assigned time off. But Seumalo three times over a four-season span between 2018-21 missed significant games because of injury. That includes sitting out the final three games in 2018 because of a pectoral injury.
Seumalo did, however, play in all 20 games for the Philadelphia Eagles during their run to the Super Bowl two years ago, and he played in all 18 (including playoffs) of the Steelers games last season — his first since signing a three-year, $24 million free-agent contract.
The only Steelers offensive snaps during which Seumalo was not the left guard last season came during a Week 13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in which Seumalo suffered a shoulder injury.
The Steelers open the season Sept. 8 at the Atlanta Falcons. Spencer Anderson and Mason McCormick would be the most likely candidates to replace Seumalo if he cannot start. Nate Herbig, the Steelers’ top backup on the interior offensive line, is out for the season after suffering a torn rotator cuff during practice earlier this month.
Anderson, a versatile seventh-round pick who made the team as a rookie last season, practiced mostly as a second-team guard during this preseason. McCormick was a fourth-round pick who most often took practice reps as the second-team left guard during training camp.
Steelers players have a four-day break beginning Thursday. They return to practice Monday in preparation for the season opener six days after that.
