After speaking to a league source, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Sunday NFL Countdown that Steelers’ center Maurkice Pouncey will not play against the Packers in Super Bowl XLV.
Pouncey injured his ankle in the AFC title game against the Jets and although he was optimistic that he would be able to play Super Bowl Sunday, it doesn’t appear that he’ll be healthy enough to suit up.
That means second-year center Doug Legursky will start in Pouncey’s place. Legursky has started just four games in his career and while he played well against the Jets last week, he’ll have his hands full with Packers’ nose tackle B.J. Raji, who has had a great postseason.
As I wrote earlier this week, even if Pouncey starts who knows how effective he’ll be. Colts’ defensive end Dwight Freeney dealt with an ankle injury prior to last year’s Super Bowl and played well in the first half. But due to the long layoff at halftime, his ankle stiffened up and he could barely play in the final two quarters. I’m not a doctor, but it’s not a stretch to think that the same thing could happen to Pouncey if he tried to play on Sunday.
