David DeCastro, Markus Wheaton cleared to practice in full

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Markus Wheaton (11) drops a pass in front of Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs (55) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line has been in shambles this season, and an attempt to upgrade bust Mike Adams at left tackle failed when trade acquisition Levi Brown went down for the remainder of the season during a pre-game workout before what would have been his first start of the season. One huge bright spot, though, has been the play of right guard David DeCastro, who has easily been the Steelers best offensive lineman. In fact, it can be argued that he is the only starting OL of any competence, and DeCastro has simply been sensational in his second season out of Stanford.

DeCastro, however, was unable to play in Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots due to an ankle injury. He’s been a revelation this season and has been one of the league’s finest run blockers this season. At this point in time, DeCastro should be regarded as a prime candidate for a spot on the All-Pro team.

ESPN NFL Nation’s Scott Brown reports that both David DeCastro and rookie wide receiver Markus Wheaton have been cleared to practice fully today, which is excellent news for Steelers fans. Wheaton is one of the most talented deep threats in this rookie draft class, but he has been unable to showcase his talent due to a broken pinky that has also likely been slow to heal. He hasn’t played since sustaining the injury in Week 4, which means that he’s been out for over a month. He should be able to bring a new dimension to the Steelers passing attack and looks like a perfect complement to Ben Roethlisberger’s strong arm.

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