After learning the nature of how rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson injured his ankle, the Pittsburgh Steelers might want to reconsider the tackling intensity of their practices.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Steelers are among the only teams that still do it.
Pittsburgh remains one of the very few (if not the only) teams in the NFL that still hits and tackles to the ground in training camp practices.
The Steelers obviously view it as useful for whatever reason, and we all know how stubborn Mike Tomlin is to change.
It’s understandable that teams have to go through the motions to best prepare their players for live action, but the force with which Pittsburgh does it seems a bit much. The risk of losing a player for any period of time — especially a rookie who needs all the preseason work he can get — doesn’t seem worth it.
The Steelers got lucky with Wilson, though.
According to Steelers Depot, Wilson sustained his ankle injury (in a live session that allowed full contact and tackling) when cornerback Anthony Averett tackled Wilson short of the goal line, “spinning him to the ground.”
Wilson is out for the remainder of training camp and not expected to play in the preseason.
