PITTSBURGH -- Starting nose tackle Steve McLendon has been officially ruled out for the Pittsburgh Steelers' game against the Tennessee Titans on Monday night.
McLendon did not practice all week after aggravating a shoulder injury that caused the fourth-year veteran to miss two games this season.
Rookie Daniel McCullers is expected to make his first career start in place of McLendon, and it will be something off a homecoming for the 6-foot-7, 352-pounder McCullers.
He played his college ball at the University of Tennessee before the Steelers took McCullers with the second of two sixth-round draft picks in May.
It will be interesting to see how many snaps McCullers plays against the 2-7 Titans.
Defensive end Cam Thomas will probably also play nose tackle at Tennessee. The Steelers could also use their nickel package in which the nose tackle comes off the field more.
In addition to McLendon, safety Shamarko Thomas will miss a third consecutive game because of a hamstring injury.
The Steelers are expected to get safety Ross Ventrone back after he missed the 20-13 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday because of a hamstring injury. Ventrone, who had filled in for Thomas on special teams, practiced all week.
He is listed as probable on the Steelers’ final injury report of the week, as is cornerback Cortez Allen (thumb). Allen was limited in drills on Friday, but practiced fully on Saturday.
The Steelers will be without strong safety Troy Polamalu (knee), linebacker Ryan Shazier (ankle) and cornerback Ike Taylor (forearm) against the Titans.
All were ruled out earlier this week.
