An Achilles' tendon injury dampened Troy Polamalu's playoff run with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, but the Pro Bowl safety is expected to be ready for training camp following treatment and rehabilitation this offseason in Los Angeles, the *Pittsburgh Post-Gazette* reported Friday.
The three-time All-Pro is under the care of an orthopedic surgeon who has ties to the Steelers' medical staff.
Sources confirmed to the newspaper last month that Polamalu never fully recovered from the Achilles' injury he suffered during a Week 14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.Â
Polamalu, 29, injured the Achilles as he approached the end zone to score a touchdown off an interception return. He missed subsequent games against the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers before returning for the regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns.
Down the stretch, the Steelers held Polamulu out of practice every day but Fridays, but Polamalu struggled to play up to his normal standards in the playoffs, failing to make an interception and managing just 10 tackles as Pittsburgh advanced to the Super Bowl but lost.
The Post-Gazette reports that the prognosis for defensive end Aaron Smith is less clear. He is not fully recovered from the torn triceps tendon that caused him to miss the final 13 games last season, and it is unclear when he will be 100 percent.
