The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to officially be in the final stages of the completing a revamp of the offensive line that was well past due when Omar Khan was put in charge back in 2022. Three of the last four NFL Drafts have seen the organization snag a big man upfront in the first round. Most recently, Max Iheanachor was taken with the 21st overall selection. This may have not been necessary if the team wasn't dealing with some legitimate uncertainty surrounding Broderick Jones, who suffered a scary neck injury in November of the 2025 campaign.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones (#77) walks on the field at St. Vincent College as the team practices during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
At the end of April, it was reported that Jones suffered some kind of setback and the Steelers had no real idea if he would be ready to go for the start of training camp or not. This brought a new wrinkle into the situation, and Pittsburgh decided to draft Iheanachor shortly after. Now, all eyes are on Jones as offseason workouts ramp up, with many trying to predict if he will indeed be good to go come September.
The Steelers will have some options if Jones cannot play right away, and that might be for the best anyway. The franchise declined his fifth-year option for 2027, so he most likely will be looking for a new organization to play for in the near future. The long-term answer at the tackle positions is looking like it will feature both Iheanachor and 2024 first-rounder Troy Fautanu.
On Tuesday morning, Steelers writer Mark Kaboly answered 20 questions that were included in a mailbag that he posted to his account on X. When someone inquired about Jones being ready for training camp, the insider was clear when stating his belief about what is going to happen with the left tackle.
"Right now, I’d lean toward no," Kaboly said. "Plus, the Steelers have to be careful and make sure he’s 100% ready, or they would blow a potential PUP list designation that would allow him to stay on the roster into the regular season without using a roster spot. I’d imagine that’s the plan as we stand here in June."
The Physically Unable to Performance List (PUP) is sometimes strategically used by teams for the exact reasoning that Kaboly explained. The Steelers will likely proceed with extreme caution regarding Jones, and allow him to come back at his own pace. Additionally, the depth on the line is pretty solid, so there is no true reason to rush the three-year starter back into the lineup.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers' offensive lineman Troy Fautanu stands on the playing surface as the team warms up on the field prior to a 2025 training camp practice being held at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
This process will continue to play out for Jones and the Steelers. He has to be careful as well, because if he gets re-injured again, it could seriously hurt his free-agency prospects come 2027. There is a lot to consider here, but Pittsburgh will want to play it safe so a roster spot is not taken up by someone who will probably not be fully healthy and ready to go by September.
The offensive line is going to be a crucial part to the Steelers' offensive operation. It is every year, but with a 42-year-old quarterback, it becomes even more paramount for the unit to remain stout throughout the course of a 17-game regular season. If Fautanu impresses on the left side throughout the summer, there will be absolutely no reason to force Jones into that spot.
Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Broderick Jones (#77) sets up at the line of scrimmage and prepares to block during a 2023 preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers Will Be More Focused On Developing The Rookie In Iheanachor
It really does seem like Jones' time in Pittsburgh will come to an end following the 2026 season, regardless of how much he plays, if at all. That is why most of the attention as far as tackles go will be placed on Iheanachor. He doesn't have to be starting right away because of the current depth, but the coaching staff is much more likely to get the rookie up to speed compared to Jones.
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