Steelers' Broderick Jones Sparks Direct Concern After Struggling At Training Camp

The Pittsburgh Steelers have entered one of the most exciting parts of the offseason: training camp. It feels like the first real opportunity for fans to see all the new additions come together on the field. With so many new faces, it’s no surprise that there’s a sense of excitement and hopefulness surrounding the team. However, while the spotlight is on the new players, it’s just as important to keep an eye on the returning players, especially those heading into a crucial season with something to prove.

One of these returning players is offensive tackle Broderick Jones. Now in his third NFL season, Jones has struggled at the professional level. Many people see this as a big year for him to bounce back and prove he belongs as a starter. However, according to Steelers insider Mark Kaboly, Jones has been making quite a few mistakes during camp. When asked on a recent appearance on 93.7 The Fan how many plays Jones had messed up, Kaboly gave a response that didn’t sound very encouraging.

"Yeah, basically all of them", Kaboly said.

This is understandably discouraging given the amount of pressure Jones is under to perform well. The Steelers’ offensive line has faced a number of struggles recently, largely because of ongoing injury issues. While the team has invested in young talent to strengthen the line, many of those players haven’t had enough time to develop due to injuries, or they’ve been forced to shift positions to fill gaps left by other injured teammates.

This is pretty much exactly the kind of situation Jones has been dealing with. Due to injuries on the line, he’s had to switch positions. While he’s spent most of his time playing right tackle, he now appears to be back at left tackle, a spot he feels more comfortable in. Even though both are tackle positions, switching sides isn’t as simple as it sounds. It’s a change that takes time and can impact performance, which could likely explain some errors from Jones.

However, it’s still concerning that Jones is struggling on the majority of his plays. Kaboly went on to elaborate, offering a straightforward and honest assessment of Jones’ performance.

"I'll just put it this way, he has not got off to a good start," Kaboly continued.

The pressure doesn’t fall on Jones alone, but it's shared by the entire offensive line. With veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers now leading the offense, the expectations for the offensive line are even higher. Their job is not only to provide solid protection, but to do so for a quarterback who at 41 years old, may need more support than most. While Rodgers still appears to be playing at a high level, his age and recent injury history make it even more important for the line to step up and give him the time and security he needs to succeed.

The Steelers have spent the entire offseason making key improvements on both sides of the ball, but there’s been a noticeable emphasis on getting more offensive weapons for Rodgers. However, none of those weapons can be truly effective if the offensive line isn’t doing their job. That group will need to work even harder to give Rodgers enough time and protection in the pocket to make use of all the new talent around him and run the offense successfully.

The Entire Steelers Roster Has Something To Prove

The Steelers have drawn plenty of attention this offseason, mostly because of the significant roster changes. However, beyond individual players like Jones, the entire team is under pressure to prove themselves. While the Steelers have been regular playoff contenders in recent years, they’ve also developed a pattern of early exits. This season, the team is clearly focused on breaking that trend and making a deeper postseason run.

Do you believe Jones will rise to the occasion and strengthen the offensive line, contributing to more wins and potentially a deeper playoff run? Let us know in the comments below!

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