The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review believes the Steelers "won't consider" free agent OT Max Starks "until/if" rookie LT Mike Adams falters. Starks would apparently only be an option at right tackle if Marcus Gilbert comes down with injury. GM Kevin Colbert recently said the Steelers were monitoring Starks' recovery from a torn ACL, but gave no indication a signing was close.

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert says the team is monitoring the health of free agent T Max Starks (ACL surgery). Rookie Mike Adams is penciled in as the team's starting left tackle, but the team could still re-sign Starks if he can get back to full health. Starks rated as an above-average tackle last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Free agent OT Max Starks (ACL surgery) "isn't likely" to re-sign with the Steelers.

Free agent OT Max Starks (ACL surgery) says he's two months away from being "completely cleared" for football activities. Conveniently, Starks' timeline has him at full health just in time for camp, when he will be six months removed from his injury. Starks recently told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review it would be "pushing it" to be ready by camp. Starks also expects to soon check in with the Steelers' medical staff, though he has received "no definitive word" Pittsburgh is interested in re-signing him.

Free agent OT Max Starks (ACL surgery) is unlikely to be ready for training camp. "It would be pushing it to be in training camp," Starks said. Starks also revealed he hasn't been contacted by the Steelers. His Pittsburgh fate was sealed when the Steelers used the No. 56 pick on OT Mike Adams. Adams will compete with Marcus Gilbert on the blindside. Still barely four months removed from tearing his ACL in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, Starks will have to be near full health for his phone to begin ringing.

GM Kevin Colbert confirms the Steelers have not ruled out re-signing OT Max Starks (ACL surgery). Starks won't resume running until June or July after tearing his ACL in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, so no move is imminent. Marcus Gilbert is currently penciled in as the Steelers' blindside protector, but it's possible they could use the No. 24 pick on a left tackle.

Free agent OT Max Starks (ACL surgery) will not resume running until June or July. Starks says his "intent" is to re-sign with the Steelers after his knee has healed, but they may have moved on by then if a first-round caliber tackle is available at the No. 24 overall pick. Starks is only 30, so he should still have a few years of football left in him, assuming the knee recovery goes smoothly.

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert suggested that none of his team's 11 unrestricted free agents will be re-signed before the market opens on March 13. Well over the salary cap limit, the Steelers are already working feverishly to free up money for restricted free agent Mike Wallace. The front office will let the market determine the salaries for OT Max Starks (torn ACL), DB William Gay, and WR Jerricho Cotchery.

Impending free agent OT Max Starks' ACL is believed to be torn. If true, it could be a career-ending injury for Starks, who will turn 30 this week and was left unsigned until early October due to weight concerns. Although he stayed healthy after re-signing with the Steelers in Week 5, he was limited to just seven games in 2010 by a neck injury.

Impending free agent LT Max Starks suffered an ACL injury in Sunday's Wild Card round loss and is a candidate for surgery. Starks nearly fell out of the league in 2011 due to a neck injury and weight problems, so it's fair to wonder if reconstructive surgery might be a career-ender for him. Starks, who turns 30 tomorrow, was signed off the street in early October. Across 12 regular season starts, Pro Football Focus graded him as the NFL's 32nd-best offensive tackle among 76 who qualified.