Tyson

Alualu

No timeline has been placed on Alualu’s return but he posted a picture of himself in a hospital, wearing a cast shortly after the injury so it doesn’t seem like he’ll be back anytime soon. Pro Football Focus has consistently been graded as one of the league’s better interior linemen and he was already off to a hot start, earning five combined tackles and a QB hit in Week 1. A slew of injuries at the start of the year could derail Pittsburgh’s plan of winning low-scoring games with Alualu becoming the latest Steelers defender to miss time.

Alualu, 34 in May, initially was planning to sign with the Jaguars, but he contracted COVID and wasn’t allowed to travel. Quarantined at home in Pittsburgh, Alualu had more time to think and decided he didn’t want to uproot his family. Alualu consistently grades out as one of Pro Football Focus’ stronger interior linemen.

Alualu, 34 in May, goes back to where it all started after the Jaguars took him with the No. 10 overall pick way back in 2010. He spent seven years there before going to Pittsburgh for the last four. The veteran graded out among Pro Football Focus’ best interior defensive linemen last season and has missed just three games in his entire career. Alualu joins DTs Roy Robertson-Harris and Jihad Ward as newcomers up front for the Jaguars.

The No. 10 overall pick of the 2010 draft was initially expected to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Serving as defensive line depth last season, Alualu notched 22 tackles on 30 percent of Pittsburgh’s snaps. He turns 32 in May.

The date and specifics of the operation are unknown, but Alualu has played through a cartilage problem in the knee since entering the league in 2010. The Jaguars hope that surgery will correct it. After a promising rookie year, Alualu was arguably the team’s least effective defensive lineman in 2011. For Alualu’s part, he has yet to miss a start through two NFL seasons.

“I’m just excited and looking forward to a great season with two healthy knees,” he said. Alualu is walking without a limp, but plans to “take things slow” ahead of Week 1. He finished last season with 40 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Alualu had hoped to correct the two-year long cartilage issue with rest and rehab, but Jaguars medical personnel advised the microfracture procedure as the best option. Alualu has yet to miss a game while playing through the pain. Expect him to be in the lineup Week 1, perhaps with a more consistent pass-rushing presence.

''We wouldn’t have gone from 28th to fifth (ranked defense) if Tyson didn’t play like he did,” DL coach Joe Cullen said. ''He really has a chance to come into his own this year. If he’s on a healthy knee he can be as explosive as he’s shown in some of the games he’s dominated. More splash plays, the sacks.” Alualu has dealt with a knee cartilage problem since entering the league, but the Jaguars hope that surgery will correct it.

Tyson Alualu will also be absent as he recovers from “minor” microfracture knee surgery. Kampman’s absence wouldn’t typically be a concern for a 10-year vet, but he’s been limited to 20 games by injury the past three seasons, and is coming off supposedly minor December knee surgery. He’s undergone three known knee operations since December of 2009, including ACL reconstructions in each knee. Due $4.975 million, Kampman could be cut after the draft.

Alualu has been playing through a balky knee since entering the league in 2010. The cartilage problem in the knee was a major factor in Alualu grading out 86th out of 88 defensive tackles in Pro Football Focus’ ratings.