Steelers safety Troy Polamalu played hurt during the team's run to the Super Bowl.
Sources confirmed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Polamalu never fully recovered from the Achilles' tendon injury he suffered during a Week 14 victory over the Bengals.
Polamalu missed two games with the injury.
He will not need surgery and is instead receiving treatment and rehabilitating the Achilles in Los Angeles.
Injury Slowed Polamalu In Playoffs