The Pittsburgh Steelers took a calculated risk by starting rookie left tackle Mike Adams in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The results weren't good.
Adams, the Steelers' second-round draft pick, had a debut to forget, allowing two strip sacks of Ben Roethlisberger in a nine-play stretch before leaving the game, won 24-23 by the Eagles, with a right knee injury.
Adams was taken to the locker room after hurting the knee. The severity of the injury is unknown at this time.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlinsaid Tuesday that both Adams and rookie guard David DeCastro would start Thursday despite some noticeable growing pains in training camp.
"We'll see more about them, and of course we'll know more about them by Thursday night," Tomlin said at the time.
What the Steelers learned was that Adams will need to greatly improve if Pittsburgh intends to plug him into the starting lineup in Week 1. That is, if he's even healthy enough to be considered an option.
