Pittsburgh Steelers to turn to Vince Williams to replace Larry Foote?

The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a couple of big blows in their season opener. Not only were the Steelers defeated 16-9 by the Tennessee Titans, but they lost center Maurkice Pouncey to a torn ACL and MCL and veteran inside linebacker Larry Foote to a ruptured bicep.

”Nobody cares about our problems,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told the Associated Press. ”They’re glad we’ve got them. We need to understand that. We need to stick together and persevere.”

Foote has been with the Steelers since they selected him in the fourth round of the 2002 draft. Last season, he had 114 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and two passes defended while playing nearly every snap for the Steelers. The 33-year old, 12-year veteran had eight tackles before his injury Sunday.

With Foote placed on injured reserve, the Steelers may now have to a rookie, sixth round pick Vince Williams, to replace him. Williams is currently listed as the backup to Kion Wilson at left inside linebacker.

According to Matthew Marczi of Steelers Depot, the Florida State product “graded out as the third-highest inside linebacker across the entire league in his 89 snaps, trailing just Daryl Smith and Dane Fletcher.”

The Steelers will be in Cincinnati to take on the Bengals Monday night.