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Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey revealed he underwent six surgical procedures and a skin graft on his left leg after suffering a broken fibula during the 2015 preseason. Pouncey told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that he is relieved to be back on the field after missing the entire season last year. Pouncey was injured in the Aug. 23 preseason game when Green Bay Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix fell onto the back of his leg.
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The 26-year-old Pouncey underwent surgery and had a setback in October when the surgical wound didn't close properly and he developed a dangerous staph infection.
"It was scary," Pouncey told ESPN. "I don't want that on my worst enemy."
The Steelers had placed Pouncey on short-term injured reserve with the hope of getting him back for the season's second half.
In October, Pouncey was preparing for a return to the lineup by working out at the team's facility, but an examination found his wound didn't granulate as the team had hoped, he told ESPN.
Even though Steelers coach Mike Tomlin never officially ruled out Pouncey for the year, his 2015 season was over.
"It all went downhill from there," Pouncey said. "It all happened so fast. I thought I was going to play.
"I blame no one. We're all professionals. I respect this organization for everything they did to get me through this."
The staph infection had not reached the bone but after corrective surgeries, Pouncey slept with a PICC line for medicine two different times. At some point, Pouncey said he also had an E. coli infection that wasn't as serious.
The 6-foot-4, 304-pound Pouncey has recovered from the injury and he fully participated in offseason workouts. With minicamp over, he plans to put in two-a-days in South Florida.
"It's just another reality check, shows you how fast things can be taken away," Pouncey told ESPN. "At the same time, it's a humbling experience, shows you how much something is important in your life, and football is very important to me."
