Right on schedule
Veteran OG Foster back at practice after long-term injury scare
For a few hours on the evening of July 28, Ramon Foster thought his career might be over. He suffered the first significant lowerbody injury of his 10-year NFL career and wondered if he had played his last snap in the league.
An MRI later that night showed a hyperextension and bone bruise, and provided the best news possible: He would miss 4-6 weeks and might be ready to play in the season opener against the Browns in Cleveland.
Monday marked 30 days since the injury, and Foster returned to practice on schedule. And he is confident he will play in 13 days against the Browns.
“This was my first real injury,” the Steelers’ 32-yearold left guard said Monday after practice. “I’ve had thumb surgeries and stuff like that. To have a lower extremity, I thought it was over. I thought it was the worst. No one wants to go their whole football career and end it on an injury or something like that, or have an uphill climb to try toget back.”
Foster said he did individual work and split first-team reps with B.J. Finney, who had been filling in the past few weeks. He was encouraged by how his knee felt immediately after practice and said he’ll know more about his future practice participation Tuesday.
“It felt good today,” Foster said. “It’s still one of those you just have to evaluate, see how it reacts tomorrow. We’re moving in the right direction.”
The Steelers play their final preseason game Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers at Heinz Field. Foster will not play, but he is aiming to be in the starting lineup for the opener.
“We still have time until next week,” Foster said. “There’s no rush. It was the first time being back since the first day in pads. No need to push it and be Superman today.
“It’s one of those things if I was in a pressed situation where I had to play this week I could. But there’s no need right now. There’s still time.”
Coach Mike Tomlin does not believe Foster has much catching up to do.
“He hasn’t been away from us,” Tomlin said. “Ramon is the type of guy who understands the role he has, not only the tangible role in terms of his play but the unofficial role in terms of his leadership. So, although we hadn’t had him out there, he’s been really close to the group. He’s done the job in that regard. It’s good to have him back out there participating.”
Foster isn’t the only starter to miss significant time and aim for a return in Cleveland. Outside linebacker T.J. Watt continues to make progress from a hamstring injury that has kept him out for most of training camp.
“I feel great,” Watt said. “I feel really good now. I’ve dealt with injuries my whole career even going back to Wisconsin.
“I had the groin [injury] last year, so I know what it’s like to sit out.
“Just knowing how important the mental reps are and everything, it allows me to come back and play fast. I felt great [Monday].”
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com.