August 31st, 2009 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
Last week the Steelers were hopeful right guard Darnell Stapleton would be back and ready to go for the season. Let’s just say those plans have changed. And not for the good.
Monday the Steelers put their starting right guard from a season ago on the injured reserve list with a knee injury and along with that of course he will miss the season.
Stapleton first injured his left knee during the first week of training camp and had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose cartilage. It seemed that his recovery was going along OK, and even he said that he felt he woudl be back for the opener vs the Titans.
Today thought, coach Mike Tomlin lowered the boom, saying that Stapleton might need more surgery and he’s done for 2009. With Stapleton out, Trai Essex will begin the season at right guard.
The Steelers also cut wide receivers Martin Nance and Steven Black, safety Derrick Richardson and center Alex Stepanovich.
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Well, our first curve-ball of the season. It looks like Essex has played well in the preseason so the o-line has some continuity with him. Trai Essex has been a Steeler for 2 Super Bowls now but has hardly ever contributed. He has had a hard time getting into the line-up and I think Urbik will be starting sooner than later. Essex is one of those career back-ups that you must have on your team at all times, but he could never beat out Simmons or Stapleton at Guard or Colon and Starks at tackle. So you have to wonder what Trai is bringing to the table? Scary still is did it just make a vulnerable o-line even weaker?