(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Veteran guard David DeCastro was surprisingly released by the Steelers last Thursday. However, there was smoke with the situation as DeCastro didn't participate in any of the minicamp practices two weeks ago.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported last week that DeCastro was released with a non-football injury designation, which means the Steelers viewed his ankle injury as not football related.
Although, DeCastro revealed to Joe Starkey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he has to get surgery on his ankle for the third time, along with saying that he had ankle surgery prior to the 2020 season. So, it doesn't add up. Are the Steelers trying to make it look like DeCastro got injured during the offseason and not at the team's facility? Are they trying to avoid being fined by the league as they didn't have DeCastro down on the injury report with an ankle injury at all last season?
Florio points out that a Ja’Wuan James-type situation could arise with DeCastro, with an argument that the injury should be covered and DeCastro’s $8.75 million salary should be paid, even if he can’t play.
DeCastro was on 93.7 The Fan last Friday to talk about his release and future. And in regards to being released with the non-football injury designation, he said he'll trust his agent and the NFLPA to handle any potential grievances.
While DeCastro didn't say much about being an NFI designation, he did have this comment -- "The owners are billionaires for a reason." DeCastro's remark suggests that he's not too happy with the Steelers, and really, who can blame him? It will be interesting to see if DeCastro and his agent file a grievance, or whether the league steps in with the Steelers not having DeCastro listed on the injury report with an ankle injury at all in 2020.