The Pittsburgh Steelers knew that they would be without second-year starting defensive end Stephon Tuitt for this game after he suffered an ankle injury during the previous preseason game in a friendly fire collision with a teammate.
It’s unlikely that the line defensive lineman sees time before the regular season begins in less than two weeks at this point, in fact. Which will give the Steelers, evidently, an extended opportunity to get a look at L.T. Walton.
The rookie sixth-round draft pick got the surprise start in Tuitt’s place, ahead of veteran Cam Thomas, who started the majority of the previous season at left defensive end, and who also was Tuitt’s immediate replacement in the last game following his injury.