Troy Polamalu injury: Steelers safety alters rehab to stay healthy

Few players have had more trouble staying on the field in recent times than the Steelers future Hall-of-Fame safety.

May 22, 2013, 12:45 PM UTC

Doug Pensinger

After a frustrating season ruined by multiple injuries to the same calf, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is determined to stay healthy in 2013. The good news for the Steelers is that Polamalu is making every effort to alter his rehab schedule and methods to make sure an injury doesn't happen again, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

"I have done quite a bit of different things this offseason," Polamalu said. "There are a lot of different rehabs and training I am doing. I feel good, thank God."

Polamalu arrived at Pittsburgh OTAs with a trim physique, surprising to some since he’s not known to be a slender guy. The hard-hitting safety has shaped his body differently this year with the notion it will help avoid the small, nagging injuries that have bitten Polamalu in the past.

"I think last year was an injury that could've been avoided," Polamalu said. "There are times when people fall on my knee, and those type of freak accidents that can't be avoided. Last year was the first injury of my career that could've been avoided."

Behind The Steel Curtain: Tomlin not impressed with 'football in shorts'

Neal Coolong of SB Nation's Behind The Steel Curtain writes of Polamalu: "As long as he keeps working on that balky calf, and he can be on the field for more than 400 snaps this season, it makes no difference whether he attends OTAs.

Last season, Polamalu played in seven games, registering 34 tackles, the second lowest total of his career.

At 32 years old, Polamalu is the unquestioned quarterback of the defense, one that underwent some serious changes in the offseason with the drafting of outside linebacker Jarvis Jones to replace long-time stud James Harrison.

All this makes Polamalu’s health more important than ever for a team that is ready to win now.