PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey had to leave with a left ankle injury in the first quarter of the AFC title game against the New York Jets and was questionable to return.
The rookie had to be helped off the field after Jets linebacker Bryan Thomas got pushed back into Pouncey. He rolled over the back of Pouncey’s leg on a 7-yard pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to Hines Ward to the New York 1. Pouncey put no weight on the ankle as he hopped off the field with the aid of two trainers.
Pouncey was replaced by Doug Legursky, and Rashard Mendenhall scored on the next play to give Pittsburgh a 7-0 lead.
