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Pivotal Steelers offensive lineman exits Colts game with injury

The Steelers can ill-afford more injuries on the offensive line (especially this one).
Jacob Harrison
Jacob Harrison

Still Curtain

Pittsburgh Steelers v Denver Broncos / Justin Edmonds/GettyImages

Technically, the Steelers' offensive line is already down three starters. Isaac Seumalo is inactive for the fourth-straight game and Troy Fautanu is out indefinitely while Zach Frazier won the starting center job as Nate Herbig went down with a training camp injury. Now the Steelers are dealing with a fourth injury to the offensive line.

James Daniels went down with an apparent leg injury on the fifth play of the game. Spencer Anderson, who was slated to take some snaps at left guard as Mason McCormick makes his first career start on that side.

James Daniels has the most NFL experience of any starting player on the Steelers offense. Only Cordarelle Patterson has more for those who take meaningful snaps. Daniels is also notably one of the few players in the NFL who wears a guardian cap over his helmet to help prevent head injuries.

Loss of James Daniels is a huge blow to Steelers' offense

Outside of left tackle Dan Moore, the Steelers now take on the Colts with four offensive linemen who have a combined six years of NFL experience.

The broadcast replay did not show a replay of what may have caused the injury, though they did show him walking off the field under his own power with a visible limp favoring his right leg. According to multiple reports, Daniels suffered an ankle injury and is questionable to return.

We'll continue to monitor Daniels status as the game progresses.

Jacob Harrison

Jacob Harrison

Jacob Harrison is the site editor for BuffaLowDown and a contributor at Still Curtain. In the past, he has covered the Alabama Crimson Tide, the NFL Draft and many other teams across college and professional football for several publications, including FanSided, Sports Illustrated, and Tide 100.9, where he hosted a live radio show in Tuscaloosa. Today, Jacob lives in Michigan, where he spends his time covering the Bills and Steelers, and offering play-by-play radio coverage for high school football in SW Michigan. Outside of football, Jacob is a passionate heavy metal music listener and an RPG gamer, though nothing tops his role as a father to three hilarious and beautiful children.