The Pittsburgh Steelers placed right tackle Willie Colon on season-ending injured reserve after he underwent surgery Tuesday morning to repair a torn right triceps sustained during the season-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The news came after Colon missed the entire 2010 season after rupturing his Achilles' tendon during an offseason minicamp. Despite the injury, the Steelers signed Colon to a new five-year, $29 million contract this offseason.
Coming off a lackluster opener in which the Ravens' defensive line was in Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's grill all afternoon, the team will hand Colon's starting spot to an untested rookie.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Marcus Gilbert, a second-round draft pick out of the University of Florida, "will be given the opportunity" to start Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Steelers also signed lineman Jamon Meredith on Tuesday to add depth to their offensive line. Meredith, a 2009 fifth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers, was released by the New York Giants earlier this month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
