Isaac Redman's first NFL start came last January on a rarefied stage in mile-high air where he became the first Bowie State product to play a postseason game.
His first NFL regular-season start for the Pittsburgh Steelers is expected to come Sunday, on the same field and against the same Denver Broncos.
This time, Redman wants to perform even better than he did in that playoff start in January, when he rushed for 121 yards, averaged 7.1-yards per carry, made 7 first downs and amassed 142 all-purpose yards in the Steelers' 29-23 overtime loss to the Broncos.
“I’m just excited to go back there and try to redeem myself kind of,” the third-year running back said Monday. “It’s not as big a game as it was last year. . . .”
Yet that January game helped to stamp Redman. Previously a spot backup to Rashard Mendenhall, Redman showed his reliability and durability in the absence of the star tailback, who tore his ACL Jan. 1. Redman finished with 92 yards on 19 carries in three quarters at Cleveland in the regular-season finale when Mendenhall went down, then bulled through the Broncos a week later. In those seven quarters, Redman rushed for 213 yards on 36 carries (5.9-yard average) and caught five passes.
“It was important for me to do well,” Redman said. “I just wanted to go out and play my heart out. Wanted to show the coaches I was capable of playing big in the big games.”
Redman, 27, a 6-foot, 230-pound former free-agent, endured hip and ankle injuries through 2012 training camp. He missed the second preseason game against Indianapolis because of the hip injury and the finale last Thursday against Carolina because of the ankle injury. He was among 10 likely starters who were held out of the game against the Panthers.
Redman concluded, “I should be fine by Sunday.”
When he was healthy this preseason, Redman gave every indication he could become a workhorse in the new Todd Haley offense. Mendenhall returned to full-time practice on Monday for the first time since his ACL surgery. Jonathan Dwyer and rookie Chris Rainey also appear ready to form a backfield-by-committee group if Redman isn’t physically able to carry a full load.
“I really don’t know what to expect,” Redman said. “I’m just trying to make sure I’m healthy and ready to go.”
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