Steelers likely to lose Maurkice Pouncey for rest of season after second ankle surgery

An NFL Network report early Thursday afternoon said Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey "is experiencing complications" from ankle surgery he underwent in August and would need a second surgery.

A few hours later, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette beat writer Ed Bouchette tweeted the news that Pouncey has undergone the second surgery, which was necessary because an infection had set in.

 

	Ed Bouchette @EdBouchette
Steelers All-Pro C Maurkice Pouncey likely to miss rest of the season after second ankle surgery bec infection set in. On short-term IR now 12:14 PM - 15 Oct 2015

Bouchette does not offer specifics on the type of infection, but the second surgery means the two-time All-Pro will likely be out for the rest of the season; Pouncey will get a second opinion before that determination is made.

Pouncey, 26, broke his ankle in Pittsburgh's third preseason game, on Aug. 23 against Green Bay and had surgery shortly thereafter. The Steelers placed him on injured reserve-designated to return, and Pouncey would have been eligible to return to practice next week and to game play Nov. 8.

This could be the second time Pouncey loses an entire season to injury; he tore his ACL in the regular-season opener in 2013.

Infection is always a scary word, but especially this week, as Giants' tight end Daniel Fells remains hospitalized and has undergone six surgeries after contracting MRSA.