Steelers veteran defensive end Brett Keisel done for year with triceps injury

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin talks to an official in the second quarter of the NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014 in Pittsburgh. The Saints won 35-32. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (The Associated Press)

Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu (43) sits on the bench in the second quarter of the NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014 in Pittsburgh. The Saints won 35-32. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (The Associated Press)

The Pittsburgh Steelers will make their stretch run without defensive end Brett Keisel.

The Steelers placed the 36-year-old Keisel on injured reserve Monday with a torn triceps. The 13-year veteran left in the third quarter of Sunday's 35-32 loss to New Orleans and did not return.

Pittsburgh signed well-traveled defensive end Clifton Geathers to take Keisel's spot on the 53-man roster.

Keisel, who rejoined the Steelers in August after the team initially declined to re-sign him in the offseason, had 17 tackles and one sack in 12 games for Pittsburgh. The injury likely puts Keisel's career in jeopardy. Longtime Steeler defensive end Aaron Smith suffered a torn triceps in 2010 at age 34 and played only four games in 2011 before retiring.

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