Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Troy Fautanu injury gives Broderick Jones another chance for Steelers

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Sep 21, 2024 5:08 PM ET

After a brutal performance in Sunday's game that featured three penalties over a six-play stretch, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones looked to be headed for an extended stay on the team's bench.

That stay on the bench is going to be a lot shorter than anticipated. He will now be back in the starting lineup at right tackle for the foreseeable future due to an injury to starting right tackle Troy Fautanu.

Fautanu was injured in practice this week and was a late addition to the injury report, and now the team has placed him on injured reserve. That will sideline him for at least the next four games and put Jones back into the spotlight on the Steelers offensive line.

Steelers now have placed OL Troy Fautanu on injured reserve.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 21, 2024

The Steelers host the Los Angeles Chargers in their home opener on Sunday, play at the Indianapolis Colts next week, return home to host the Dallas Cowboys and then visit the Las Vegas Raiders over the next four games.

It is a fascinating situation to watch unfold because both players were selected in the first round in the past two NFL drafts. The Steelers traded up to select Jones with the No. 14 overall pick in 2023, and then took Fautanu with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The initial plan for the Steelers seemed to be that Fautanu would lock down the right tackle spot while Jones would be the left tackle, sending veteran Dan Moore Jr. to the bench. Fautanu immediately held up his end of the bargain by securing the starting job on the right side. Jones, however, has not been able to do the same. Not only has he been unable to unseat Moore Jr., but he simply hasn't played well enough in training camp, the preseason or in his limited work so far this season.

Now he is going to get a chance to change that storyline and narrative. The Steelers offensive line has a lot of inexperience on it right now with Jones starting at right tackle, rookie (second-round pick) Zach Frazier starting at center and backup Spencer Anderson (just two NFL starts) filling in for injured left guard Isaac Seumalo. Seumalo is the Steelers' best offensive lineman and has yet to play this season.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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