PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers’ potentially long road through the AFC playoffs won’t include running back Rashard Mendenhall.

Mendenhall tore the ACL in his right knee in Sunday’s 13-9 win in Cleveland and will require surgery, knocking him out of the postseason.

Mendenhall sustained the injury late in the first quarter while getting tackled following a 5-yard gain. The team’s leading rusher clutched the knee immediately and had to be helped off the field. He was on crutches following the game and coach Mike Tomlin indicated Mendenhall would at least miss this weekend’s Wild Card game against Denver.