It's seemed like a given for two weeks that Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey would not be able to play against the Green Bay Packers with his high ankle sprain. But the Steelers had been holding out hope that he could practice on Friday, and be available for the Super Bowl. Reality has finally set in, and Adam Schefter tweets that Pouncey did not practice on Friday. He is out.
While Pouncey is obviously the better player, he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, it's not clear what impact his absence will have. New starting C Doug Legursky had a forgettable AFC Championship game with two fumbled snaps, but he's now had two weeks to practice with the first team offense. And he's played well at times as an injury replacement this season.
Still this isn't good news for the Steelers. Their offensive line has been hit hard with injuries, and this last one could not have come at a worse time. It might mean that the Packers are even more aggressive with blitzes and stunts up the middle early in the game as they test Legursky.