The Pittsburgh Steelers had the entire fan base on the edge of their seats when the 2026 NFL Draft occurred in the Steel City. There was plenty of excitement leading up to the big event; however, the first round did not go exactly as planned. The front office was set on taking now-Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon, but the cross-state rival traded up ahead of Omar Khan to take the pass-catcher. This led to a bunch of criticism, especially because a strong playmaker was in the team's grasp, only for another offensive lineman to be taken in Max Iheanachor.
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Steelers offensive lineman Max Iheanachor during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The ironic part about the situation is that both rookies are dealing with some kind of injury as they get set to play professional football for the very first time. Lemon is dealing with a hamstring issue, while the offensive lineman has been sidelined for roughly 10 days with a neck/shoulder problem. Prior to the ailment, he was making some strong progress as he was trying to win a starting spot.
Every rep for a first-year player matters, even if he is talented enough to be taken in the top 32. Iheanachor seemed to have a legitimate chance of unseating Dylan Cook on the depth chart at right tackle, but now there are some questions about how long he will be in street clothes during practices and games. More information provided on Monday shed an unfortunate light on the behind-the-scenes expectations.
Head Coach Mike McCarthy spoke to the media and didn't necessarily give a positive update regarding Iheanachor. Fans are probably going to have to wait even longer to watch him compete against a different-colored jersey. Mike DeFabo of The Athletic gave an in-depth recap of what was said about the rookie.
"Mike McCarthy on Max Iheanachor: 'He’s making progress. I don’t see him playing this week.' McCarthy said that Iheanachor wasn't scheduled to practice today. 'If he can get in there Wednesday, we'll see what happens,'" DeFabo reported on X.
The Steelers have not been shy about building in the trenches in recent years. That is why the selection of Iheanachor wasn't necessarily too shocking. After the Lemon debacle occurred, it made sense to complete the rebuild of the unit up front. He has always been seen as a raw talent, so missing significant time in training camp is potentially hurting his development.
Pittsburgh will be comfortable with Cook on the right side until Iheanachor gets up to speed; however, it felt like the rookie was getting close to already pushing for a starting role. The longer he remains out, the harder it will be for him to get the top job. The ailment comes at an unideal time as the Steelers prepare for the regular season.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy stands on the field during a 2026 training camp practice taking place at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Time will tell what Iheanachor's recovery process looks like. Once he does get back on the field, one has to wonder if it will take some time to get to full strength. If that is the case, it's not likely that he will be able to be crowned the starter ahead of Week 1. All in all, it's just bad timing for the Steelers to see this kind of injury.
Pittsburgh will be diligent and careful while working him back. There is no need to turn a potentially small issue into a much bigger one. That is why McCarthy isn't expecting him to suit up on Friday for the second exhibition matchup of the year. After a nearly two-week break, why rush him back just to see him in a preseason contest?
Steelers Need To Be Careful With Iheanachor
When a first-round pick is used on someone, the number one thing to consider is long-term health. If there is any way for the lineman to make his situation worse, he should remain on the sideline until he is fully recovered. That seems to be what McCarthy was hinting at on Monday. While the door was slightly left ajar, it's very unlikely that fans will see Iheanachor suit up on Friday.
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