(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Steelers announced this afternoon that they released Pro Bowl guard David DeCastro, and the reason for the departure is that he's been having issues with his ankle for quite some time. DeCastro had surgery before last season and he texted Joe Starkey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today that he has to get surgery on his ankle for the third time.
"I tried to fix it last year but the bone spurs kept coming back, DeCastro told Starkey. "It nagged me pretty bad all last year.”
Starkey followed up by asking DeCastro if he still wants to play.
“Gotta see how the surgery goes,” he said. “But I’d have no problem calling it a day and moving on with my life.”
DeCastro was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft at 24th overall out of Stanford and played nine seasons with the organization. In addition to being named to six Pro Bowls, DeCastro was also named first-team All-Pro twice (2015, 2017) and second-time All-Pro once (2016).
The Steelers will now have four new starters on their offensive line in 2021 with DeCastro being released. Maurkice Pouncey retired this offseason and Matt Feiler and Alejandro Villanueva signed with other teams as free agents. Feiler signing with the Chargers and Villanueva going to the Ravens.