Rashard Mendenhall Injury: Steelers RB Should Give His All to Play This Week

Rashard Mendenhall needs to man up and play for the Steelers this week if there is any way he can get on the field.

The team is struggling, currently with a 2-2 record, and they need consistency if they want to improve.

Mendenhall tweaked his hamstring in the second half of the Steelers loss to the Texans on Sunday and put together a semi-productive game before leaving, rushing for 25 yards and a TD on nine attempts.

It’s now being reported by Austin Kim that Mendenhall is limited in practice and this does not bode well for his chances to play on Sunday.

While not going for a regular practice early in the week isn’t a big deal, if he continues to be limited as the end of the week nears, he may not be able to go at full strength in the Steelers' game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Mendenhall is a key contributor to the team and was a big reason the team made the Super Bowl last season. He’s having a tough year but much of that can be blamed on the atrociousness of the Steelers offensive line and the ineffectiveness of Ben Roethlisberger, who is holding on to the ball too long.

He has 58 rushes for 173 yards and two touchdowns this season and I can’t imagine his replacements, Isaac Redman or Mewelde Moore, doing much better.

For fantasy purposes, owners of Mendenhall should probably pick up Redman if he is available, as he is most likely going to see the most amounts of carries if the Steelers starter cannot play.

While some Steelers followers are calling for Redman to replace Mendenhall even despite of injury, I can’t see them making that switch without their hand being forced.

Mendenhall is a valuable member of the franchise and if he can play, he must.