Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall has been dealing with injuries all season and it appears things won't be getting better anytime soon.
The Steelers announced on Tuesday that Mendenhall has been suspended one game for "conduct detrimental to the team" after the running back did not show up for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers at Heinz Field.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette reported the news about Mendenhall, writing that he did not show up for the game after he found out from the team that he would not be dressing.
He wrote on Twitter: "#Steelers suspended Mendenhall bec after they told him he wd not dress vs. Chargers, he did not show up at Heinz Field, source says."
According to ESPN.com, "The suspension will cost Mendenhall $41,176."
Mendenhall has been going through an injury-plagued season and has been inactive for the past two games. He suffered a serious knee injury at the end of last season and did not return until midway through 2012.
Mendenhall has played in only four games this season and hasn't dressed for the team since fumbling on two of four carries against the Browns on Nov. 25. Mendenhall had 101 total yards and one touchdown in his first game back in the team's 16-14 win against the Philadelphia Eagles, but suffered an Achilles injury the following week.
According to Steelers.com, "The Steelers promoted Baron Batch from their practice squad to fill Mendenhall's roster spot. Batch spent the first 10 games of this year on the team's active roster but was then signed to Pittsburgh's practice squad for Weeks 12-14."
The injuries to Mendenhall have forced the Steelers to use Jonathan Dwyer, Isaac Redman and rookie Chris Rainey for the majority of the season. Dwyer has been the primary running back for the past few weeks and leads the team with 510 rushing yards and has one touchdown.
Redman has been used mostly in redzone situations, scoring two touchdowns, while Rainey has rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Mendenhall has rushed for only 113 yards this season and hasn't scored a rushing touchdown.
In his first game back against the Eagles, Mendenhall rushed for 68 yards with three receptions and one touchdown, but has fumbled three times in four games. He has been the leading rusher for the Steelers the past three seasons, rushing for 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2010.
The Steelers have ranked just 25th in rushing this season and are gaining less than 100 yards per game.
Pittsburgh selected Mendenhall with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 draft out of Illinois, but his play has declined each of the past three seasons. He is on pace for his lowest totals in yards, touchdowns, receptions and attempts since his rookie season.
Mendenhall has rushed for 3,480 yards and 29 touchdowns in his career and has fumbled nine times in four seasons. He tied his career-high this season with three fumbles, the same as in 2009 when he rushed for 1,108 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Steelers may have tipped their hand about how they are going to deal with Mendenhall in the future, since he is an unrestricted free agent after the season. The team has shown in the past it will not tolerate bad attitudes and personal issues, including when they traded Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets.
There have been other issues as well. According to ESPN.com, "Mendenhall has made headlines before, but it was his poor decision on Twitter. In May 2011, he ignited a Twitter controversy by questioning the events of 9/11 and expressing sympathy for Osama bin Laden."
The Steelers lost 34-24 at home on Sunday to the Chargers and have lost three of the past four games. Pittsburgh started the season 2-3, but rebounded to win four straight games, including a 24-20 win over the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
The team is battling for playoff position in the AFC and currently is in the sixth spot tied with the Bengals as a Wild Card. Pittsburgh has games left on the road against the Dallas Cowboys and home Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns.
