PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Max Starks needs surgery to repair a disc injury in his neck and will miss the rest of the season.

The injury, not believed to be career-threatening, leaves the Steelers (6-2) without both of their projected starting offensive tackles. Right tackle Willie Colon, unsigned past this season, is out for the season after injuring an Achilles' tendon in June.

The 28-year-old Starks, a starter on Pittsburgh's Super Bowl-winning teams during the 2005 and 2008 seasons, was injured during a 27-21 victory over Cincinnati on Monday night.

Starks, who was placed on the injured reserve list, is expected to be replaced by Jonathan Scott, a former Bills starter who has been backing up Starks and right tackle Flozell Adams.

Starks has started three seasons at left tackle after starting two seasons at right tackle.