Steelers guard Ramon Foster “100 percent” for Jets, says teammate
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Ramon Foster鈥檚 status for Sunday against the Jets isn鈥檛 confirmed after he was out last week with a bruised sternum, but all signs are pointing in a positive direction for the veteran guard. Foster was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, but wouldn鈥檛 confirm his availability status then.
鈥淚t feels good today,鈥� Foster said after practice Wednesday. 鈥淲e鈥檒l see how tomorrow feels in the morning, but I practiced well, got my punch strong. Everything was fine, but we鈥檒l see how tomorrow morning feels.鈥�
The morning must have went well. On Thursday, one of his teammates on the offensive line seemingly cleared up the speculation. Maurkice Pouncey expects Foster to play.
鈥淩amon鈥檚 playing,鈥� Pouncey said. 鈥淥ne hundred percent.鈥�
Foster isn鈥檛 one for sitting out, only missing 11 games over the course of his eight-year career.
鈥淗e鈥檚 built like that, man,鈥� Pouncey said. 鈥淭hat guy is a veteran. He鈥檚 hungry to play. He sat out last week and he鈥檚 not used to that. I鈥檓 pretty sure he wants to get back out there with the guys.鈥�
Though Foster admitted that with his strong desire to play, he may have tried to speed up his recovery process too soon last week. The good news is that he practiced for the second straight day on Thursday.
鈥淭rying to push through it wasn鈥檛 a good thing,鈥� Foster said on Thursday. 鈥淚t set me back last week, but this past week of full rest and rehab and time has been good. I鈥檓 feeling good.鈥�
For offensive linemen especially, bruised sternums can cause issues with the amount of wear and tear their chests take over the course of the game. An integral principle to playing on the defensive line requires driving your hands through an offense lineman鈥檚 core in order to shed blocks.
Perhaps of any position in football, an offensive lineman鈥檚 ability to be productive is contingent upon the strength of that area.
鈥淚t鈥檚 more of the fact your mechanics of how you work inside,鈥� Foster said. 鈥淲hether you鈥檙e using your shoulder, and you feel it in your chest, or your punch with your arms and you feel that down from your pecs to your sternum.
鈥淚t was a big thing because sometimes when you鈥檙e going to the second level, you鈥檙e dealing with short linebackers. That鈥檚 where they try to hit you in the chest, and pop.鈥�
Foster鈥檚 presence will help as the Steelers offensive line prepares to likely play without right tackle Marcus Gilbert, who hasn鈥檛 practiced this week with an ankle injury.