David DeCastro's release Thursday might have caught some people by surprise. But not the six-time Pro Bowl guard.
DeCastro said he had an MRI during the team's minicamp last week that revealed he needed what will be a third surgery on his ankle. The issue is expected to sideline him for "at least a couple of months."
“I’ve thought about it all off-season,” DeCastro told 93.7 The Fan on Friday. “I knew something was wrong. I wanted to give it that 18-month window, which is usually when you can tell with surgery so I gave it time to rest then started working out, running and moving around, but I knew something wasn’t right.”
DeCastro had surgery on the same ankle a little over a year ago to repair some bone spurs, which apparently returned. He said they have been painful the entire offseason, but he was hopeful surgery wouldn't be needed.
The Steelers released him with a Non-Football Injury designation, which means they feel the issue isn't related to playing. Because of that, they aren't required to continue with any further compensation for their nine-year veteran, a first-round draft pick in 2012.
DeCastro, 31, said he'll trust his agent and the NFLPA to handle any potential grievances because of that, but also admitted he might have played his last football.
"I’m not really too concerned about the future, to be honest,” DeCastro said, “I had a great career here and I’ll give it the time that it deserves and go from there.”
The ankle injury obviously bothered DeCastro in 2020. It kept him from practicing early in training camp, and he then suffered knee and chest injuries, as well, which cost him games.
"I gave it my best shot but my body didn’t cooperate," DeCastro said.
“The bone spurs came back that limited my motion and I gotta get it fixed for a third time. I just gotta get this ankle right, not just for football if I want to play again but just for life to make sure I have mobility and be able to be active when I’m done.”
All told, he missed three games for the Steelers last season. He started 124 of the 125 games he played in his career for the Steelers and was named All-Pro three times.
The Steelers saved $8.75 million by releasing. They used some of that money to sign veteran guard Trai Turner to replace him.
DeCastro's loss leaves the Steelers with virtually a whole new offensive in 2021. Maurkice Pouncey retired at the end of the season, while Matt Feiler and Alejandro Villanueva signed free agent deals with the Chargers and Ravens, respectively. That group had been together for six seasons.
