Injured Steelers RB Mendenhall nearing return

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Steelers’ struggling running game could get a shot in the arm on Sunday in Oakland.

Starting running back Rashard Mendenhall practiced on Wednesday and is inching closer to returning from right knee surgery.

Mendenhall hasn’t played since tearing the ACL in his knee in last year’s regular season finale in Cleveland. He underwent surgery in January and has seen his workload in practice increase in the last couple of weeks.

The Steelers could certainly use Mendenhall to help take some of the pressure off quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh is currently 30th in the NFL in rushing yards and nearly 20 percent of its running plays carries have gone for losses.

Tackle Willie Colon says Mendenhall appears to be 100 percent, though a decision won’t be made until later in the week.

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