National Football League

Steelers' Mendenhall out with torn ACL?

Published Jan. 2, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Pittsburgh Steelers fear Rashard Mendenhall may be lost for the season after he limped out of Sunday's 13-9 victory over the Cleveland Browns with a suspected torn ACL in his right knee.

The Steelers were set to learn Mendenhall's fate Monday but expect to enter the wild-card game against the AFC West-winning Denver Broncos next weekend without the star running back, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

Mendenhall went down without contact in the final play of the first quarter before grabbing his knee in pain.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Sunday, "It's not good when a guy goes down in open grass not touched by anyone. Experience tells me that's generally not good."

Mendenhall helped Pittsburgh to a 12-4 season but saw the Baltimore Ravens clinch the AFC North with Sunday's victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, which confirmed the Steelers' wild-card trip to Denver.

Cornerback Cortez Allen also left Sunday's game with a shoulder injury, but the Steelers were boosted by hobbling quarterback Ben Roethlisberger playing the whole game in a heavy snowstorm at Cleveland Browns Stadium.