Last week Chris Kemoeatu of the Pittsburgh Steelers openly said teammate Maurkice Pouncey would not be able to play in Super Bowl XLV against the Green Bay Packers. Then the Steelers listed Pouncey as questionable.
ESPN is now reporting that Pouncey, Pittsburgh’s impressive rookie center, will definitely not play.
Pouncey apparently has a high ankle sprain and a broken bone in his right ankle. He has been in a cast and on crutches since the AFC Championship Game against the New York Jets.
Pouncey, a first-round draft pick, was named to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season. Doug Legursky, a second-year pro who replaced Pouncey against the Jets, will start in his place.
In other Super Bowl news, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Nick Barnett, who is on injured reserve, have apparently patched up their disagreement about the Packers Super Bowl team photo.
Barnett had complained about the players on injured reserve for Green Bay not being included in the team photo. Rodgers said that after his conversation with Barnett “everything is cool.”