PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – His teammates talked to him into coming back even after he had an agreement to go back to Jacksonville. Now veteran defensive lineman/nose tackle Tyson Alualu is out indefinitely with a broken ankle.
“He’s a heck of a player,” said Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward. “Injuries are a part of the game. It’s not something we can run from.”
“When you lose a guy like Tyson,” said defensive lineman Chris Wormley. “You have to think about who is going to step up and I think it’s all of us. We don’t need a rah-rah speech to get it done with Tyson out.”
While not gaudy stats, Alualu is a key to what the Steelers do on defense. He is a glue piece to the defensive line, on and off the field. Defensive line was one of the Steelers deeper units on the team, but quickly depleted with Alualu now out and only hope that Stephon Tuitt will play this year. Tuitt is currently on injured reserve with a knee injury.
“Hopefully we have guys that are able to step up,” Heyward said. “I gotta be harder on my guys. We gotta make the plays. Having a guy like Tyson or T.J., there’s like a blanket out there. We were already down Tuitt to start with. It’s gotta be a collective effort. It’s not one man to be Superman. The group has to pick up the slack.”
Wormley likely isn’t an option to slide over into the middle, although he said he will do whatever is needed. The 27-year-old is already filling in for Tuitt and may not have the right body type to assume that role. Carlos Davis played some against Buffalo. He is dealing with a knee injury that kept him out Sunday.
A seventh round pick last year, it’s not known how long Davis will miss. He is 6’2”, 320 pounds and had six tackles in seven games his rookie season.
“I think he’s a more confident player himself,” Wormley said of Davis. “Obviously as a rookie you are dealing with a hundred of different things that aren’t football. You go on from being a big dog at Nebraska to being a rookie. Now you can see he’s a little more comfortable. A little more confident on and off the field.”
“His get off is ridiculous and his pass rush skills have only increased this year. I’m excited to see him get some sacks this year and get some pressure on the quarterback with his God gifted talents.”
6’3”, 295-pound Isaiah Buggs is the same age as Davis, but in his third season out of Alabama. Another Steelers late round pick with an opportunity.
“He understands his role a little more,” Wormley said of Buggs. “He understands the defense in general. When he’s in there, he can disrupt some things in the middle. Especially at that nose position-clog up holes, push the lineman back and he’s gotten better in the pass as well.”
Steelers activated Henry Mondeaux from the practice squad. He’s typically a defensive end, but as the Steelers figure out their rotations. Mondeaux could build on the 11 games he played in 2020.
“We had so many guys with depth,” Wormley said. “I’m excited for him to get another chance. He played well last year when called upon.”
“The young guys, like Loudermilk. He played pretty well for us (on Sunday). It being his first game as a rookie. I’m excited for him to take his next steps and progress.”
Isaiahh Loudermilk is a fifth round pick from Wisconsin. He’s also more built like a defensive end at 6’7”, 240 pounds. But with the ever changing defenses and use along the defensive line. What is typical anymore?
Loudermilk probably needs a year of seasoning, but it’s now his time to be a part of the solution. A member of a committee trying to help a defense already counted on to help carry a young offense.
“We are excited for the challenge,” Wormley said. “Whenever Tyson comes back, we will welcome him with open arms. Until then, it will be a bigger load on the younger guys, myself included.”
