Steelers Notebook: Colon says he's game-time decision, Troy Polamalu misses practice

[Count Steeler]

For the first time in 14 days, G Willie Colon was a full participant at Steelers practice.

He joked that it was because he was scared he was "going to be Wally Pipp-ed."

Colon did not play in the past two games because of a knee injury that quickly showed up late in the practice week two weeks ago. He also did not practice Wednesday but went through a full workout without holding back Thursday.

"I feel real good," Colon said afterward. "I was able to pull and do all the things I need to do. We will see how it feels (Friday), and hopefully I'll be ready to go Sunday."

Colon termed himself a game-time decision. If he can't start, C Maurkice Pouncey will once again move over Colon's left guard spot and OL Doug Legursky will start at center.

Polamalu does not practice again: S Troy Polamalu made his return to game action earlythis week, but he seems to have been taken off the practice field.

Polamalu did not practice for the second-consecutive day Thursday. On Wednesday, it was said Polamalu was given the proverbial "veteran's day off" that coach Mike Tomlin made famous with now-retired WR Hines Ward in recent years. But Tomlin did not give healthy players two days off in a row.


full story @ http://www.cbssports.com/general/blo...isses-practice

[zulater]

Troy Polamalu has not practiced this week. He will do so today and start at free safety Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. Had the Steelers taken that approach the first time he injured his calf, he might have avoided re-injuring it and missing seven more games.
"I think it was a better game plan going into the last game than it was going into the Philadelphia game where I injured myself," Polamalu said.
He referred to the way he practiced and played upon his return in the fourth game of the season. He played in the opener and then missed the next two games with a calf injury. In the week before their Oct. 7 game against Philadelphia, Polamalu went all-out through full practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He left the game against the Eagles early with what he now says was a different muscle injury than the first.
Last week, he was listed as having gone through full practices each day, but that does not mean he took every snap. He also played less than a full game in Baltimore.
"I was limited in a way in terms of repetitions and the game plan as far as practice was concerned throughout the week," Polamalu said.
Asked if it might have made a difference had that approach been taken in the week before the game against the Eagles, Polamalu said, "I don't know, I don't like to deal in hypotheticals. It happened, so ... "
The Steelers have listed both injuries as "calf" and there is no requirement for them to go into more detail. But Polamalu called it "a different muscle" this time.
Which muscle?
"I already gave you too much," he said, laughing.


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