Steelers lose Aaron Smith for year
According to Gerry Dulac and Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette, Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith has been placed on injured reserve (IR), which will end his season.
Last week, Smith, one of the league's best run-stopping ends, tore his rotator cuff against the Lions.
To take Smith's roster spot, the Steelers signed DE Ra'Shon "Sunny" Harris, their sixth-round draft pick, from the Panthers' practice squad.
The Steelers led the NFL in total defense (237.2 yards per game) and they were second in run defense (80.3 yards per game) in 2008. This year, they are fourth in overall defense (290.8 ypg) and second in run defense (71.2 ypg).
As the Post-Gazzette points out, their defense struggled in the four games Smith missed in 2007 by allowing 157.2 rushing ypg.
"I think he's one of the unsung heroes in this league," Steelers free safety Ryan Clark said (via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review), "a guy that's underappreciated for what he's done for many years."
In Smith's absence, the Steelers will use a committee of first-rounder Ziggy Hood, Travis Kirschke and Nick Eason.
Last week, Smith, one of the league's best run-stopping ends, tore his rotator cuff against the Lions.
To take Smith's roster spot, the Steelers signed DE Ra'Shon "Sunny" Harris, their sixth-round draft pick, from the Panthers' practice squad.
The Steelers led the NFL in total defense (237.2 yards per game) and they were second in run defense (80.3 yards per game) in 2008. This year, they are fourth in overall defense (290.8 ypg) and second in run defense (71.2 ypg).
As the Post-Gazzette points out, their defense struggled in the four games Smith missed in 2007 by allowing 157.2 rushing ypg.
"I think he's one of the unsung heroes in this league," Steelers free safety Ryan Clark said (via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review), "a guy that's underappreciated for what he's done for many years."
In Smith's absence, the Steelers will use a committee of first-rounder Ziggy Hood, Travis Kirschke and Nick Eason.
