Pittsburgh Steelers: What Will They Do Without RB Rashard Mendenhall in 2012?

It's looking more and more like Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall will miss most of, if not the entire, 2012 season according to team general manager Kevin Colbert.

Mendenhall, who tore his ACL in the season finale against the Cleveland Browns on January 1, may take a full 12 months to heal. If that is the case, he wouldn't take the field at all in the 2012 season, forcing the Steelers to find other options at the position.

Luckily, the team has a number of running backs currently on their roster. Isaac Redman is likely to see the majority of the carries, with his playing time augmented by fellow backs John Clay and Jonathan Dwyer.

Baron Batch, a seventh-round pick in 2011 who tore his ACL during training camp last year, will likely return to the team fully healthy and should also find himself on the field during the 2012 season.

With that much depth and other more pressing roster needs, don't expect the Steelers to pick up a running back in this year's draft or in free agency.

Redman averaged 4.4 yards per carry in spot-start and change-of-pace roles in 2011 and is just as versatile in the passing game as Mendenhall. Barring injury or the ascendance of another running back, Redman should be a more than adequate replacement this season.

Follow @FBALL_Andrea