Isaac Redman Won't Propel Steelers to Victory Against Stingy Titans Defense

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall is out of Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans, and Isaac Redman will get his first career NFL start in his place.

In just 22 carries this season, Redman has averaged an impressive 4.9 yards per carry.

The Steelers are not just without Mendenhall at running back for Sunday—third-down specialist Mewelde Moore will not play because of an ankle injury. This means former Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer will likely dress for the second time in his brief career.

However, the Titans' run defense is playing so well this season that it may not matter whom the Steelers play at running back this week.

Tennessee only allows 87.8 rush yards per game and is giving the up the fewest points per game in the NFL with 14. The Titans haven't even allowed more than 16 points in a single game this season.

The Steelers' loss of Mendenhall hurts with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger nursing a foot injury. Although Big Ben will play Sunday, having him do most of the work offensively is not ideal for the Steelers, who would like a balanced offensive attack against a defense that gives up so few points.

Mendenhall has gotten off to a slow start this season. He has rushed for 173 yards on just 58 carries with a single touchdown. He's not only been disappointing for fantasy football owners, he's been a disappointment for the Steelers, who were hoping Mendenhall would really become a star this season.

Mendenhall's injury opens the door for Redman to shine and prove he can be a vital part of the Steelers running game. He is also a good pickup in fantasy leagues for Week 5.

Nicholas Goss is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report; follow him on Twitter for the latest sports news and updates.