Pittsburgh Steelers: Willie Colon out for the Rest of the Season

As per Ed Boutchette of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette via Twitter, "Willie Colon has a torn triceps muscle, and will have surgery Tuesday." 

Willie Colon, the starting right tackle of the Pittsburgh Steelers is on the injured reserve for the secondstraight season after apparently tearing his triceps muscle in a 35-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. 

When it rains it pours and right now there's a damn monsoon coming down on the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2011 season. Colon's injury can't come at a worse time. The Steelers got completely man-handled against the Ravens in a blowout loss, and the Steelers especially got man-handled at the line of scrimmage, on both sides of the ball. 

Colon didn't have a good game, but is probably the second best offensive lineman on the Steelers' roster, behind second year center Maurkice Pouncey. The Steelers have also said that Colon is the best right tackle in football. 

Colon has been the full-time starting right tackle for the Steelers since the 2008 season, the same year they won Super Bowl 43. Colon is considered a very athletic and strong offensive lineman with a mean streak. His only true downfalls are his arms being too short (aka t-rex arms), and is known for getting called for a bad penalty, once in a while. 

Colon started the entire seasons in 2008 and 2009. Last year, Colon didn't even make it to preseason as he was on the injured reserve last season. The Steelers still had high hopes for Colon as they signed him to a five year, 29 million dollar contract this past offseason. 

Colon started one regular season game and now he's out for the year for the second straight season. It's a damn shame but signing a guy coming off a major injury to a five year deal was risky. The Steelers rolled the dice and got snake eyes, at least for now. 

The Steelers released veteran tackles Flozell Adams and Max Starks this past offseason. Starks was released because he was due way too much money and Adams wanted to be a starter. I think most of Steelernation and myself fully expects the Steelers to bring either Adams or Starks back. 

Starks might be the best choice because he's younger than Adams and can play right and/or left tackle. However, Starks has also had some major injuries. Adams started all of last year at right tackle and was a major force in the running game. 

Personally, if they can get them for cheap, I'd bring them both back and I'd start both of them, too. Jonathan Scott isn't the answer at left tackle and his backup is a rookie. Start Starks at left tackle and Flozell at right. It gives you much more experience, size and power.

I'd expect the Steelers to announce a signing tonight or first thing Tuesday morning. 

As for Colon, it is what it is. I never thought he was worth that contract in the first place, but he was the Steelers' second best lineman, and that's not saying much. Colon is due to make some decent money and is injury prone. 

Now the Steelers' offensive line just got downgraded from mediocre to suck. 

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