Troy Polamalu Makes Sensational Interception, Leaves With Knee Injury

The NFL season kicked off on Thursday with the Steelers knocking off the Titans overtime -- but Troy Polamalu's situation may turn out to be the story of the night.

Pittsburgh's cornerback had a stellar first half that included an amazing interception, but suffered a leg injury in the second quarter and did not return to the game.

A Tennessee player fell on Polamalu's left leg as he scrambled for the ball following Pittsburgh's block of a Rob Bironas field-goal attempt. The Steelers trainers immediately began tending to Polamalu on the sideline -- he then limped to the locker room and did not return to the field.

""It's an MCL sprain," Tomlin said during his postgame press conference. "Those things have a range of three-to-six [weeks of recovery time]."

Before that, Polamalu made what might turn out to be the single best interception of the entire 2009 season when he leaped in front of Titans receiver Kenny Britt, stuck his left hand in the air and made a one-handed grab of a pass thrown by Kerry Collins. It was the kind of smart, athletic play that shows why Polamalu is one of the NFL's best defensive players.



He was also called for two personal fouls (one a facemask, one unnecessary roughness) and a pass interference (which was offset by a Titans penalty) before leaving with the injury.

And then, once Polamalu was out, the rest of the Steelers' defense demonstrated how badly they needed him: On the second play without Polamalu on the field, Collins found a huge opening deep in the Steelers' secondary and hit a wide open Britt for 57 yards. On the next play, Collins hit Justin Gage for a 14-yard touchdown.