Steelers starting OT limps off with injury

Broderick Jones left Sunday’s game with in injury.

It didn’t take long for the first injury to pop up for the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to multiple reports including Steelers beat writer Ray Fittipaldo, starting right tackle Broderick Jones suffered some sort of leg injury and limped off the field under his own power.

Spencer Anderson is in for Jones. The team is still waiting for the return of rookie offensive tackle Troy Fautanu. Jones has struggled in his second NFL season but was playing better heading into the bye week.

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Should Pittsburgh target an offensive lineman at the trade deadline? 

Poor penalty management by Steelers’ RT Broderick Jones, and injuries to the offensive line may need to be solved via trade by the deadline.

It is truly miraculous how the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to win games given how injured their offensive line is. In Week 8, the Steelers were missing three starting offensive linemen, with two out for the entirety of the regular season. The interior depth on the o-line has been great, but the tackle position may need an upgrade before the upcoming trade deadline on November 5th. 

LT Dan Moore Jr., whose play has been outstanding this season, was banged up and had to sit out one play late in Week 8’s contest. Backup offensive lineman Spencer Anderson replaced him and immediately allowed QB Russell Wilson to get sacked. 

RT Broderick Jones continues to commit penalties that kill offensive momentum, and while it is probably time for HC Mike Tomlin to bench him, there is truly no quality starter who could take his place. 

Offensive tackle trade targets such as Cam Robinson, Andrus Peat, or Walker Little could help alleviate the injury woes. This team looks primed to make a deep playoff run, but they’ll first need to address depth issues on the offensive side of the football. 

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Does Mike Tomlin need to bench RT Broderick Jones again?

Broderick Jones’ penalty woes continued in Week 8, taking an opening-drive TD off the board. Does HC Mike Tomlin need to intervene again?

The more things change, the more they stay the same. While the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive unit appears much more dynamic under Russell Wilson’s leadership, issues on the offensive line continue to hold the offense back.

Specifically, several backup offensive linemen are stepping up in a big way for the Pittsburgh Steelers, yet 2023 first-round draft pick RT Broderick Jones is struggling, arguably making him the weakest link on offense. In 2024, Jones has had issues in all aspects of blocking, with penalties being his greatest weakness. 

On a key play during the Steelers’ Week 8 opening drive, Wilson rolled out to his right and connected with WR George Pickens for a touchdown, only to have it nullified by a face mask penalty from Jones. The penalty yardage proved too much to overcome, forcing the offense to settle for a field goal. 

Jones was benched earlier in the year by HC Mike Tomlin for similar issues, and the team may need to consider it again to prevent the offense’s momentum from stalling.

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Broderick Jones weighs In: Can Russell Wilson outshine Justin Fields?

During Friday’s media availability for Pittsburgh, RT Broderick Jones was asked what exactly the difference was between Wilson and Fields.

During Friday’s media availability, Broderick Jones was asked about the differences between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Jones kept his response short and sweet, emphasizing that the main difference lies in the ‘energy’ each quarterback brings to the offense.

“Russ has been doing this for so long,” Jones explained, “When he comes in, he has a little swagger about him.”

This swagger and poise is exactly what this offense seems to be missing, as Fields’ decision making and lack of pocket awareness continues to kill drives.  Wilson’s resume speaks for itself—nine Pro Bowl selections, 2015 leader in passer rating, 2017 leader in touchdowns, and Super Bowl XLVII champion.  However, the anger of fans and wise insight from their offensive lineman cannot bring Wilson’s presence on offense into fruition.

Pittsburgh’s young 2023 first-round offensive tackle seems to be stating the obvious answer to the question Arthur Smith and Mike Tomlin are trying to avoid—can Russell Wilson win more games for the Steelers than Justin Fields?

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NFL Network analyst breaks down Broderick Jones’ performance in Week 3

NFL analyst Brian Baldinger breaks down one key play from Broderick Jones’ bounceback performance in Week 3.

Broderick Jones has had an up-and-down start to the year, to say the least.  The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ right tackle struggled with pass protection in Week 1, allowing a pair of sacks against Atlanta’s defense.  His lack of discipline with penalties was on full display early into the Week 2 contest, resulting in his subsequent benching.  Just as fans were starting to lose hope in the 2023 first-round draft selection, he bounced back in a major way with a solid Week 3 performance.

Troy Fautanu suffered a severe knee injury during a Week 2 practice, which led to Jones re-entering the starting lineup.  It was his shot to silence the naysayers, and that’s exactly what he did.

Brian Baldinger, an NFL analyst known for his in-depth player breakdowns, highlighted Jones’ first play of the game against four-time Pro Bowler Joey Bosa:

Recording a pancake on one of the NFL’s best edge rushers is guaranteed to get eyes on a player.  Jones looked impressive in his return to starting duties and can continue to rebuild the trust of his team moving forward.

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3 Steelers we can’t wait to watch this week vs the Chargers

The Steelers face a huge challenge this week against the Chargers.

It’s only Week Three of the NFL season but there has still been plenty of drama on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Injuries throughout the offseason have disrupted the Steelers roster plans and this week against the Los Angeles Chargers is no different.

There are really three guys who we want to keep a close eye on this week for the Steelers. One who is coming back from injury, one with a new lease on life as he gets back into the starting lineup and one big-time free-agent addition who hasn’t produced.

OT Broderick Jones

An injury to Troy Fautanu gives offensive tackle Broderick Jones a chance at redemption after being benched last week. We saw good Broderick Jones last season and maybe this week, against a huge challenge of the Chargers defense we will see him again.

WR Roman Wilson

This week will mark the NFL debut of rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson. We don’t expect a huge game out of Wilson but given how bad the Steelers wide receivers have been this season not named George Pickens, we do hope he gets some targets.

L B Patrick Queen

Chargers running back JK Dobbins is the NFL rushing leader heading into this season and presents a familiar challenge to the Steelers defense and to his former teammate Patrick Queen. The Steelers added Queen on a huge free-agent contract to be the athletic run-stopper this defense was missing. But after only six tackles through two games, we want to see a lot more this week.

Steelers elevate 2 from practice squad

The Steelers bring up two players to help after placing pair on IR this week.

Saturday was a busy day for the Pittsburgh Steelers. First the team placed starting offensive tackle Troy Fautanu on Injured/Reserve with a knee injury and now they have elevated two guys from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

According to the transaction wire, the Steelers have elevated cornerback James Pierre and offensive lineman John Leglue in place of him. Leglue is likely to get a helmet this week given the lack of depth the Steelers have along the offensive line.

Pierre could also see himself in uniform on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers to help on special teams coverage and return teams after Pittsburgh put linebacker Tyler Matakevich on IR.

https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/1837592492662829122

Leglue could find himself thrust into action as well as the only legitimate backup offensive tackle on the roster. Leglue started five games for the Steelers in 2021 but none of those were at guard.

Another option could be Spencer Anderson. Anderon is filling in at left guard but could move to tackle in a pinch.

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Steelers injury update: Troy Fautanu OUT in Week 3

Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie right tackle will miss Week 3 against the Chargers with injury, and Broderick Jones will most likely step up in his place.

It had been previously reported by ESPN reporter Adam Schefter that Troy Fautanu had suffered a knee injury and could be out indefinitely.  He was scheduled to undergo further evaluation, but we now have confirmation that he will miss Week 3.

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This is a frustrating setback for the health of the Pittsburgh Steelers roster as a whole, which were set to welcome a few reliable starters back from injury in the coming weeks.

Broderick Jones will more than likely be his replacement for the foreseeable future.  Mike Tomlin had confirmed that his benching in Week 2 was due to consistent penalties, and it will be interesting to see if these issues have been ironed out

While the Steelers will be without rookie Troy Fautanu when they take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3, the standard of victory hasn’t changed.  The team has an opportunity to win this for their injured brethren, and will look to do so on September 22nd at 1:00 EST PM.

 

Steelers injury updates: Starting OT out indefinitely with knee injury

It sounds like Broderick Jones will be back in the starting lineup this week.

According to ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers could be without the services of rookie offensive tackle Troy Fautanu for some time. The Steelers are taking on the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

Fautanu suffered a knee injury in Friday’s practice but there  was no word if it was the same knee he injured earlier in the offseason or if it was the other knee. We presume this is a re-injury but no official word from the team.

The Steelers listed Fautanu as questionable for Sunday’s game and according to offensive tackle Broderick Jones, Fautanu was getting an MRI.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1837484319477989382

Depending on what that MRI said, Fautanu could be downgraded on Saturday. If Fautanu can’t go, Broderick Jones will be back in the starting lineup. Jones was benched last week in favor of Fautanu after Jones had three penalties in one drive.

Meanwhile, the left tackle spot remains intact as Dan Moore Jr. holds off all comers with a strong first two games.

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Steelers injury update: Pittsburgh shuffles offensive tackles at Friday practice

Broderick Jones was back in the starting lineup on Friday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are just a few days away from their game with the Los Angeles and an injury popped up at practice that could provide one player an opportunity to earn his way back into the starting lineup.

According to offensive tackle Broderick Jones, he was back in the starting lineup at practice on Friday after rookie OT Troy Fautanu tweaked something and Jones assumed his previous role as first-team right tackle with Dan Moore Jr. remaining on the left side. We assume the tweak was to Fautanu’s knee that he injured earlier in the offseason.

Jones was benched last week versus the Denver Broncos after three penalties on a single drive cost the Steelers points.

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Last season, Jones made her way into the starting lineup after Chuks Okorafor was benched and played well. This season has definitely been a step back in terms of development for Jones but this might be his opportunity to re-take the starting job.

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