Steelers' Ramon Foster to miss 4-5 weeks, won't need surgery

By Jeremy Fowler
http://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers
July 29, 2018


Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey comforts offensive guard Ramon Foster after being hurt during practice Saturday. (Tribune-Review)

Pittsburgh Steelers guard Ramon Foster will miss four to five weeks after being carted off during Saturday's practice, but the longtime starter will not need to undergo surgery, a source confirmed to ESPN.

Foster suffered the injury during a padded training camp session at St. Vincent College. The source said Foster had a bone bruise and a stretch of the MCL but that there was no ligament tear.

Foster went down during a pileup on the third play during 11-man work. He was holding his right knee after the play. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who had the day off, rode off in the cart with the nine-year veteran.

The four- to five-week timeline would leave Foster with a week or two to prepare for the Steelers' season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 9. The source was optimistic that Foster could be back on the field even sooner.

NFL Network first reported on a timetable for Foster.

Foster, 32, has 115 career starts and is in the final season of a three-year, $9.6 million contract. He has expressed interest in re-signing with the team.

Coach Mike Tomlin called Foster, the team's National Football League Players Association rep, a core member of the Steelers who has been "doing this a long time."

B.J. Finney took Foster's place in the lineup. Tomlin said the former undrafted center out of Kansas State has proved himself, playing in 14 games with four starts since 2016.

Injuries are beginning to mount early in Steelers camp. Several starters did not finish Sunday's padded practice, including tight end Vance McDonald (foot), wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (undisclosed), safety Sean Davis (groin) and linebacker T.J. Watt (hamstring tightness).

Tomlin did not know the severity of the injuries coming off the team's second straight padded session.

"You know, such is life this time of year," said Tomlin, who confirmed Foster's right knee injury will not require surgery. McDonald left practice in a cart. Smith-Schuster was catching passes from Roethlisberger after practice and looked healthy. Tomlin said the team is likely exercising caution with him.

Safety Morgan Burnett has missed three practices with a hamstring issue but should return soon.