Pittsburgh Steelers place starting guard Willie Colon on injured reserve

Steelers guard Willie Colon will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. (Getty Images)

The Steelers have placed starting offensive guard Willie Colon on injured reserve, the team announced. During Pittsburgh's 34-24 loss to the Chargers on Sunday, Colon returned after a three-game absence, but re-aggravated a knee injury that he suffered earlier in the season.

This marks the third straight season that will end on IR for the seven-year veteran. He missed all of 2010 with a torn Achilles tendon and played just one game in 2011 after tearing his triceps.

Colon, in the second year of a five-year, $29-million contract, moved to guard this season after spending the rest of his career as a tackle. First-round pick David DeCastro will likely start in his place in Sunday's pivotal game against the 8-6 Bengals, who are one game ahead of the 7-6 Steelers in the wild card standings.

Top cornerback Ike Taylor will also miss this week's game.