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Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Mike Adams is expected to make a full recovery after being stabbed during an attempted carjacking early Sunday morning.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that the 23-year-old Adams understands how lucky he is that he was not more seriously hurt during the incident on the city's South Side.
"Obviously, it's an unfortunate situation, but he's very blessed to be in the position that he's in," Tomlin said.
Adams told officers he was standing near his truck shortly after 3 a.m. when he was confronted by three men, one armed with a knife and one armed with a handgun.
Adams told police the trio tried to carjack him, but he didn't have his car keys. He said "the situation escalated" and one man pointed the gun at his face while the other stabbed him twice before all three fled, according to police. Adams went into a nearby restaurant to seek help and was later taken to UPMC Mercy, where he had surgery for stab wounds to the abdomen and left forearm. He is expected to be released by Tuesday afternoon.
No arrests have been made.
Tomlin visited Adams following the attack and said the team's second-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft is in good spirits.
"We recognize the world that we live in, and things like this are capable of happening," Tomlin said. "Not that we accept it, but we understand that it's capable of happening."
Adams is expected to be the team's starting right tackle but will be prevented from participating in football activities for several weeks. The Steelers are in the midst of organized team activities and open training camp in late-July.
Barring a setback, Tomlin anticipates Adams to be ready when camp begins, though football wasn't at the forefront of Tomlin's concern. The coach also cautioned about the potential issues that can arise in the city's popular bar district.
"We need to recognize that some things are going on that are on the South Side that make it a dangerous place, particularly after hours, and we all need to take proper precautions," Tomlin said. "And, hopefully, as a community, we'll take the steps necessary to assure that this doesn't to anyone, whether it's a Pittsburgh Steeler or no."