The Facts: Mendenhall tore his ACL on January 1, and that means the team isn’t counting on its leading rusher to return for the start of the 2012 season.
Diehards Line:G.M. Kevin Colbert said today that there’s a good chance Mendenhall won’t be ready for the start of the season and will open 2012 on the Physically Unable Perform list, Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette similarly quotes Colbert as being pessimistic, saying the Steelers are not counting on Mendenhall in 2012. Colbert said he doesn’t feel good about a player coming back from a torn ACL for a full year, meaning the Steelers expect to open the regular season without Mendenhall in the backfield.