Casey Hampton has elbow surgery

[BlitzburghRockCity]

Our friend Chuck Finder of CBS Sports Pittsburgh tweeted out this afternoon that Hampton mentioned he recently had elbow surgery:

@CBSSportsNFLPIT: NT Casey Hampton offered a surprise Wed.: He got his left elbow "fixed." It's in cast. He said he expects to be ready for the season opener

NT Casey Hampton looked like a tennis player Wednesday. Well, at 350-some pounds, his left elbow resembled one belonging to a suffering tennis player: encased in black tape and a cast. All Hampton admitted Wednesday was that he recently got it “fixed” – scoped, most likely – and still expects to return to the Steelers' lineup in the season opener Sept. 9 at Denver.

So it's sort of like tennis elbow after all?

“Age,” was how Hampton described the injury. “I just got my elbow fixed. [It'll] get healed up.”

Given his ACL injury last January in the Denver playoff loss, will this elbow procedure slow his return? “I'll be out there playing soon, hopefully,” Hampton added. “That's my goal: being out there for the first game. And I'm not worried about the knee at all.”

Apparently his elbow is more of a concern than his knee at this point. He is off the PUP now you have to wonder if activating him in week 1 is worth the risk at this point with McLendon doing so well.

If he is active, it doesn't say much for Alameda Ta'amu's progress so far.

[LatrobePA]

Save cap space and cut him.. His run is over!

[BlitzburghRockCity]

Listening to him today talking on SteelersLive, he's pretty content with where he's at right now. When asked if he can see Steve McLendon starting and him backing up for Steve, he said "you'll have to ask the coaches". Casey has been around the block enough to know how his recovery is going and what that means for the start of the season. Whether he starts or not, or is even active is anybody's guess but I wouldn't put anything past him if he's given the opportunity to get on the field.

[steelspikes]

Big Snack rules!

[connecticutsteel]

HEY he's a savvy veteran guy who could spell McLendon until T'amu come in to his own

[BlitzburghRockCity]

Plus, it's not like Casey normally plays on 2nd and 3rd downs anyways. He comes in on first downs and rarely ever plays on 3rd downs. If he can play and they decide to use him he'll get maybe 15-20 snaps per game.


He doesn't need to be top physical condition to play anymore,he hates to practice anyway..LOL

[86WARD]

Save cap space and cut him.. His run is over!

Would not be upset at all over this. Use the money to sign Wallace long-term.

[Zachintosh66]

Again... why is he just now having surgery? Thats twice this preseason (IE: Harrison)... Couldn't/Shouldn't this have been handled before now?

They wont cut Hampton... theres no depth behind McClendon. The rook (Ta'amu) isn't ready and is unproven. In the past they had Hoke to fall back on, who could at least hold his own (usually). They are gambling that Hampton will be able to return sooner than later. They dont/wont want to put that position into the hands of 2 guys who have limited NFL experience.