By ERIC KNOPSNYDER
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have proven this season that they aren’t the same team without Troy Polamalu on the field.
They should know soon how long they will be without their play-making safety.
Polamalu had an MRI on his left knee near the end of Sunday’s 18-12 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The five-time Pro Bowler injured his left knee during the Steelers opener against Tennessee on Sept. 10. He missed the next month, and the Steelers defense suffered, dropping games at Chicago and Cincinnati when the opposition drove for a late, game-winning score.
Polamalu returned on Oct. 18 and the Steelers defense didn’t give up more than one offensive touchdown in any of the three games he played.
He left Sunday’s game during the fourth quarter and did not return.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin didn’t have much information on his star’s status after the game.
“He’s getting an MRI on his left knee,” Tomlin said. “The same knee he injured earlier in the year.
“I assume that I’ll have more information at a later date or time. Right now, all I can tell you is that he’s in the process of getting an MRI.”
Tomlin wasn’t sure what happened to Polamalu or how he re-injured the knee.
“I don’t know the details of the hit,” Tomlin said. “He came off the field, he said he was going to get his knee rechecked again, that’s what they're in the process of doing.
“Obviously, he wasn’t able to return to the football game.”
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Hot Reed: Steelers kicker Jeff Reed has rebounded nicely since missing two field goals in the loss to the Bears and another in the loss at Cincinnati.
He has made nine in a row since then, including a 4-for-4 performance on Sunday.
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End of the run: Running back Rashard Mendenhall seemed to have broken through in his second season after averaging 105 rushing yards in the Steelers past five games, but he was held to 36 yards on 13 carries Sunday.
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Notes: Steelers inactive for the game were CB Keiwan Ratliff, FB Carey Davis, OG Kraig Urbik, OT Tony Hills, DE Sunny Harris, WR Shaun McDonald, DE Travis Kirschke and QB Dennis Dixon. ... The Berlin Fife and Drum Corps performed outside the stadium prior to the game and then got to watch the game as guests of the Steelers. … Steelers Hall of Fame DT “Mean” Joe Greene was presented the Clio Award for his legendary Coca-Cola advertisement in which he tosses his jersey to a young boy.
Greene won the award 30 years ago but never received it.
