Prognosticating this early in the summer as to how the season will play out for a team is never a reliable endeavor, but after losing their starter at offensive tackle for the entirety of the 2010 campaign, more than a few fans in Pittsburgh are sure to be contemplating throwing in the towel before their team even gets started.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, tackle Willie Colon has torn his Achilles tendon and will likely undergo surgery along with a lengthy stint in rehab as a result.

The Steelers have already had a trying off-season with former #1 wide receiver Santonio Holmes traded away to a conference rival in disgrace, and standout quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suspended for six games thanks in large part to allegations of him having raped a young college coed at a bar near his home in Georgia.

Losing Colon is yet another setback for this proud franchise, and while the first two will likely cause significant problems early on in the season, not having a solid leader in Colon in the huddle will undoubtedly be a major detractor as the year rolls on.

Colon is relatively young at age 26, so he’ll bounce back without too much difficulty, given the technological advances the game has seen in recent years, especially in the area of sports medicine. That said, it won’t help the Steelers this year, and not having Colon anchoring the right half of their offensive line could also be problematic for the all-important ground game in Pittsburgh.

The loss of Colon will undoubtedly push rookie offensive guard Maurkice Pouncey into the starting lineup from day one, with versatile blocker Trai Essex switching over to take control of Colon’s spot on the field. The Steelers could also theoretically choose to sign veteran player to fill the hole, although that option isn’t as likely given their needs at other positions.

As always, we’ll keep you posted when more information becomes available.

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