Steelers' Pouncey sick of season-ending injuries

Ramon Foster was walking with Maurkice Pouncey on the second floor of the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex recently when they ran across a wall where the Steelers display pictures of the greatest players at their position along with their Hall of Fame players.

“I looked at Pounce and said he's going to be up there one day,” Foster said.

Pouncey glanced and then deadpanned, “I need to stay on the field, man.”

And that's just about all Maurkice Pouncey cares about these days — staying on the field. It is what drives him. It is what motivates him. It is what keeps him up nights.

It also is what made him refuse time off during the four weeks of spring practices on the South Side that concluded Thursday.

Pouncey missed all but eight snaps of two full years spanning the past three seasons from what you can call freak injuries.

In 2013, David DeCastro's failed cut block took out Pouncey's right knee. Last preseason, Packers' safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix rolled into the back of Pouncey's left leg, breaking his fibula above the ankle.

Pouncey, the Steelers first-round pick in 2010 who will turn 27 at the end of July, has missed 33 of the Steelers' last 50 games. It doesn't sit well with him.

“His entire mentality now is staying on the field,” Foster said. “That's all that's on his mind. If there is anything messing with him it is him not being able to be on the field and be with us. His goal No. 1 is to make it through continuous years without missing anything.”

That hasn't happened much lately.

Pouncey made a full recovery from the 2013 knee injury to have an All-Pro and Pro Bowl season. Less than a year after that injury, he was rewarded with a five-year contract extension worth in excess of $44 million.

The good health was short-lived.

Pouncey's season ended in August when he was hurt during the third preseason game. He later was put on the injured reserve/designated to return list that would've allowed him back late in the season, but complications with the initial surgery changed everything.

Pouncey recently revealed to ESPN he underwent seven surgeries on his leg last year to fix the bone, clear up infections and have a skin graft performed.

“I wish it was just one surgery and done,” Pouncey said. “But when you went through all of that and all the surgeries I went through, it is an experience that you don't want. But it is also a wake-up call showing you that football can be over at any point. It just hungers you and pushes you more.”

Sitting out an entire year let alone two in a span of three isn't easy. DeCastro was lost in the preseason of his rookie year because of a fluke knee injury caused when a teammate fell into him.

“It's not easy to deal with,” DeCastro said. “I felt sorry for myself, and I was a rookie and didn't know how to deal with it. The toughest part is not feeling a part of it. This is a tight-knit group, and you want to be a part of it.”

This past year was especially difficult on Pouncey. He was around last year, but not as much as he would have liked because of the multiple surgeries.

“He is one of the toughest guys in this locker room, and it was difficult to watch him go through that,” DeCastro said.

Pouncey said he watched all the games on TV, and Ben Roethlisberger gave him a watch for Christmas like he did every other lineman.

“I told him I didn't deserve it,” Pouncey said. “Things will be different this year. I am not trying to sit on the couch anymore.”

That may explain the no-days-off mentality Pouncey took through the spring and plans to take during training camp.

Throughout organized team activities and minicamp, not only did Pouncey participate, he was one of the few who was in full uniform. And if he wasn't going full speed, he sure was close.

“I am feeling great, baby. Feeling young,” Pouncey said.

“He's been killing it,” Foster said.“I think he actually looks better. The experience and the drive he has, he has taken it up a notch. But it all comes back to him staying on the field.”

Nobody knows that better than Pouncey.

Mark Kaboly is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mkaboly@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MarkKaboly_Trib.