Steelers May Have Been Completely Wrong About Max Iheanachor

The Pittsburgh Steelers waited the entire preseason to see Max Iheanachor in an NFL game. When the 21st overall pick finally debuted against the Buffalo Bills, his performance offered both a glimpse of his physical potential and a reminder that missed development time cannot be recovered instantly. The rookie struggled early before settling down during Pittsburgh's 28-27 loss.

Iheanachor entered the contest after participating in only two practices since returning from the neck and shoulder injury he suffered on Aug. 6. He was beaten one-on-one by Andre Jones Jr. for a sack and was flagged for a questionable holding penalty after putting a defender on the ground. There were also encouraging moments when his power appeared. Still, the uneven performance raised a difficult question about whether the rookie is as close to contributing as Pittsburgh initially hoped.

Mark Kaboly addressed that concern on Kaboly + Mack following the preseason finale. His evaluation acknowledged the long layoff, but suggested Steeler Nation may have overestimated how advanced Iheanachor was before the injury interrupted his summer.

"Well, my concern is now, after what Iheanachor did in his first game as a pro and his first time back for a while because of his injury, maybe he's not as advanced as we thought he was," Kaboly said. "The holding calls, the sack allowed, he wasn't really sharp."

That assessment sounds harsh when separated from the circumstances. Iheanachor was making his professional debut after missing approximately three weeks during the most important developmental period of his young career. An offensive tackle cannot recreate full-speed repetitions through meetings or individual conditioning. The speed and technique required to block NFL edge rushers must be experienced. One mistimed punch, poor angle or moment of lunging can immediately expose a tackle, which happened when Jones beat Iheanachor for the sack.

Iheanachor recognized the mistake himself after the game. He explained that his feet felt fine, but admitted he lunged on the play and needed to study the film. That type of self-diagnosis matters, even if it does not erase the result. The holding call deserves additional context. Iheanachor used his strength to drive the defender into the ground, and the flag appeared questionable on replay. It was officially a negative play, but it should not carry the same evaluative weight as being clearly defeated in protection.

Kaboly's larger concern was not that one difficult debut proved Iheanachor cannot play. The issue was everything the rookie lost while unavailable. Pittsburgh had initially watched him build momentum before the injury removed him from practices and the first two preseason games.

"That's what I was worried about in the beginning with him missing so much time," Kaboly said. "When you miss two and a half to three weeks, that's just time you can't make up right now."

That lost time has likely eliminated any realistic possibility of Iheanachor opening the season as the starting right tackle. Dylan Cook received the majority of the first-team opportunities while the rookie recovered, giving him an enormous advantage in preparation and familiarity.

However, Iheanachor's difficult debut also created an opportunity for another former first-round tackle. Broderick Jones entered the summer needing to reestablish himself after neck surgery and prove he still belongs within Pittsburgh's long-term plans.

"Here's the sad thing: This was here for Broderick Jones to take," Kaboly said.

Jones has not decisively claimed that opportunity. His own preseason contained protection problems and inconsistent moments, preventing him from creating meaningful separation while Iheanachor was unavailable.

Steelers Cannot Rush Max Iheanachor After Uneven Debut

Kaboly's concern is fair, but Pittsburgh should avoid turning one August appearance into a permanent conclusion. Iheanachor showed rust because he was expected to be rusty. The more important evaluation will involve how quickly he corrects his mistakes once he receives consecutive healthy weeks of practice.

The Steelers should remain open to Iheanachor earning a role later in the season rather than forcing him into the lineup immediately. His first-round talent has not disappeared, but the timeline clearly changed when the injury cost him nearly three weeks.

Did Iheanachor's debut change your expectations for his rookie season, or did his improvement throughout the game provide enough encouragement? Share your Steelers thoughts with me on X (@anthonyghalkias) and consider following for more Black and Gold coverage and discussion.

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