DT Hargrave injured in first day atop depth chart
A Pittsburgh Steelers is seen on an end zone pylon before the start of an NFL football game between the St. Louis Rams and the Steelers Sept. 27, 2015.
Steelers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave plays in a preseason game Aug. 26 in New Orleans.
PITTSBURGH – That didn’t take long.
The Steelers on Monday released their first depth chart for the 2016 season and rookie Javon Hargrave was listed as the starter at nose tackle.
He didn’t make it through practice, however, without issue.
According to teammate Daniel McCullers, Hargrave left practice early with a knee injury.
“He said he felt something tweak,” McCullers said. “We’ll see what it is. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious and he’ll be back soon.”
It could be bad news for the Steelers, who already are facing the possibility of playing the regular-season opener Monday in Washington without defensive end Cameron Hewyward, who suffered a sprained ankle in a preseason game at New Orleans Aug. 26.
Hargrave, the Steelers’ third-round draft pick, jumped over McCullers on the depth chart as the replacement for Steve McClendon.
Hargrave finished the preseason with eight tackles, a sack and a pass defensed. McCullers, who battled a sore knee late in the preseason, had seven tackles.
“I’m ready,” McCullers said.
If Heyward doesn’t play, then Ricardo Mathews will take his place in the starting lineup but it would leave the Steelers with only second-year player L.T. Walton as a backup defensive lineman. Mathews was signed as a free agent in the offseason to help offset the losses of both McLendon and Cam Thomas.
While watching film during the spring, Mathews felt like he was already watching himself on the field.
Long dreadlocks? Check.
No. 90? Check.
“I’m looking and I asked, ‘This film is from last year? Who was No. 90?'” Mathews said. “They said that was (McLendon). I was like, ‘Wow, that looked like me for a second and I haven’t put on the uniform yet.’ That was pretty funny. I got Jarvis (Jones) in camp before, too. (Fans) were yelling, ‘Jarvis, Jarvis.’ I can’t turn around if they don’t know my name.”
The seventh-year defensive end has bounced around the NFL, spending four seasons in Indianapolis and the past two with San Diego.
Mathews hopes to have found his final destination, one that will help him achieve his goals.
“There’s always room for improvement in my case,” Mathews said. “Shoot, I’ll hit full potential when I go to the Pro Bowl and get that Super Bowl. If it ain’t that, I haven’t hit full potential.”
Being a Pro Bowl player might be a stretch for Mathews, considering the Steelers signed him to be a reserve. Playing in the Super Bowl? Mathews could have a say in helping Pittsburgh achieve that.
Mathews showed in the preseason, when he had four tackles, a pass defense and a pressure that forced an interception, that he can be a capable backup, something the Steelers did not have last year.
“He’s a high-motor, high-energy guy, a blue-collar worker and he doesn’t care what you ask him to do,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “He’s willing and able. All of those are good attributes, in terms of the job description in being a versatile backup defensive lineman for us.”
Tomlin got a first-hand look last season when the Steelers played at San Diego and escaped with a 24-20 win. Mathews, who started seven games for the Chargers, came off the bench and had two tackles and a sack against Pittsburgh, showing off his high-energy style.
“That crossed my mind when they asked me to come in before I signed,” Mathews admitted. “That was one of my better games last year as far as pass rushing. I got off quickly. I displayed some quickness and physical ability and I guess they saw it.”
Mathews’ numbers last season – 22 tackles and a sack – aren’t eye-popping, but with Pittsburgh in the market for a backup to Heyward and Tuitt, the 6-3, 300-pounder fit the bill.
“If the time comes, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to help the team. I’d be prepared to play nose if they needed me to,” he said.
The players voted Heyward, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, cornerback William Gay, and safety Robert Golden as team captains. … Cornerback Justin Gilbert, acquired in a trade Saturday with Cleveland, will wear No. 24. … Quarterback Zach Mettenberger, claimed off waivers from San Diego last week, will wear No. 18. … Tight end David Johnson and linebacker Tyler Matakevich both wore No. 46 in the preseason, but neither is expected to wear that number in the regular season. … Roethlisberger wore a No. 5 jersey at practice Monday to honor veteran backup Bruce Gradkowski, who was placed on injured reserve last week.