It seems to prove itself a truism every year, but early in Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, injuries are already playing their part in helping to shape, if not decide, the fate of a handful of notable roster battles.
Five players already have been waived injured or placed on injured reserve, many of them at key positions with depth spots available to be seized, or at least clear priority opportunities for placement on the practice squad.
Certainly the biggest move came yesterday when the Steelers announced that defensive end Clifton Geathers was placed on the Reserve/Injured List.