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Steelers guard Ramon Foster “100 percent” for Jets, says teammate

By Christopher B. Mueller for The 3 min read
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PITTSBURGH — Ramon FosterĢƵ status for Sunday against the Jets isn’t confirmed after he was out last week with a bruised sternum, but all signs are pointing in a positive direction for the veteran guard. Foster was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, but wouldn’t confirm his availability status then.

“It feels good today,” Foster said after practice Wednesday. “We’ll see how tomorrow feels in the morning, but I practiced well, got my punch strong. Everything was fine, but we’ll see how tomorrow morning feels.”

The morning must have went well. On Thursday, one of his teammates on the offensive line seemingly cleared up the speculation. Maurkice Pouncey expects Foster to play.

“RamonĢƵ playing,” Pouncey said. “One hundred percent.”

Foster isn’t one for sitting out, only missing 11 games over the course of his eight-year career.

“HeĢƵ built like that, man,” Pouncey said. “That guy is a veteran. HeĢƵ hungry to play. He sat out last week and heĢƵ not used to that. I’m pretty sure he wants to get back out there with the guys.”

Though Foster admitted that with his strong desire to play, he may have tried to speed up his recovery process too soon last week. The good news is that he practiced for the second straight day on Thursday.

“Trying to push through it wasn’t a good thing,” Foster said on Thursday. “It set me back last week, but this past week of full rest and rehab and time has been good. I’m feeling good.”

For offensive linemen especially, bruised sternums can cause issues with the amount of wear and tear their chests take over the course of the game. An integral principle to playing on the defensive line requires driving your hands through an offense linemanĢƵ core in order to shed blocks.

Perhaps of any position in football, an offensive linemanĢƵ ability to be productive is contingent upon the strength of that area.

“ItĢƵ more of the fact your mechanics of how you work inside,” Foster said. “Whether you’re using your shoulder, and you feel it in your chest, or your punch with your arms and you feel that down from your pecs to your sternum.

“It was a big thing because sometimes when you’re going to the second level, you’re dealing with short linebackers. ThatĢƵ where they try to hit you in the chest, and pop.”

FosterĢƵ presence will help as the Steelers offensive line prepares to likely play without right tackle Marcus Gilbert, who hasn’t practiced this week with an ankle injury.

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