The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Monday that the Pittsburgh Steelers are not expecting injured running back Rashard Mendenhall to be fully recovered from his torn anterior cruciate ligament until the 2013 season, citing sources.
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That is consistent with comments made by Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert earlier this year, when he suggested that Mendenhall is likely going to open the 2012 season on the physically unable to perform list.
Whether Mendenhall is capable of playing this season, the team doesn't think he'll be up to his pre-injury standards in 2012, according to the newspaper.
Mendenhall suffered the injury in the Steelers' regular-season finale against the Browns last season.
If the Steelers opt not to bring back free-agent running back Mewelde Moore, the newspaper reports, fourth-year player Isaac Redman would likely be first atop the team's depth chart. Redman has started one game and has 726 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 163 career carries.