Steelers Expect Rashard Mendenhall Back For 2012 NFL Season

Last week, there were some media outlets reporting that Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall may have played his last down for the Steelers and that the team could look to move on as early as the upcoming NFL Draft. Of course,  Mendenhall will miss the beginning of the season, while he rehabs his torn ACL, but he should return to the team at some point during the year.

“To clarify, what I said was I never think players coming off an ACL are 100 percent for a full year. It doesn’t mean they can’t play,” Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “At some point, we’ll have Rashard back. I’m confident of that.”

That is welcomed news to the Steelers and their fans. Mendenhall may not be spectacular, but getting him on a hot streak only adds another dimension to the team’s dynamic offense.

With that, you would have to expect the Steelers would not address running back early in the draft. They can instead look to address needs in the aging defensive unit. Until Mendenhall is able to return, Isaac Redman will receive the bulk of the load with backups Jonathan Dwyer and John Clay adding to the physical rushing attack.

Now, if only the team can get Mike Wallace back.

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