Troy Fautanu's Promising Update Reveals Hidden Steelers Benefit For Max Iheanachor

The Pittsburgh Steelers received a promising observation about Troy Fautanu as they prepare for Sunday's matchup, but his ankle injury also created an opportunity that could matter if he cannot play. Ray Fittipaldo said the starting offensive tackle looked good during the portion of Thursday's practice open to reporters. At the same time, rookie Max Iheanachor gained valuable experience alongside Pittsburgh's first-team offense.

Fautanu missed Wednesday's practice with a right ankle injury before returning in a limited capacity Thursday. That progression does not guarantee he will be available in Week 2, but it is better than another complete absence. His movement during individual work also gave Fittipaldo reason to offer a cautiously encouraging assessment.

Fittipaldo discussed the situation Friday on 93.7 The Fan after being asked about Iheanachor's chances of seeing the field. He explained that reporters cannot watch the team portion of practice, limiting what he could confidently conclude about Fautanu's workload. What he did observe, however, appeared positive.

"Well, in the window where we got to watch practice yesterday, Troy actually looked pretty good," Fittipaldo said. "He was limited and listed as that. We don't get to watch any team, so I'm a little bit in the dark about how much he did during the team period, but when he was out during individual, he looked like he was okay."

The uncertainty remains because limited participation covers a wide range of workloads. Fautanu may have handled enough work to remain on course to play, or the Steelers may have been carefully testing the ankle. The team's final injury designation and Fautanu's response to the practice will offer a clearer picture.

Fittipaldo believes the nature of the injury could allow Fautanu to play through it. He stopped short of reporting that the tackle would definitely be active, instead offering his instinct about what Fautanu may attempt. His comments also revealed why Pittsburgh benefited from preparing for both possibilities.

"I think if it's a sprained ankle, he can probably play through that," Fittipaldo said. "We will see what Mike McCarthy's approach is with that. My gut says Troy will probably try to play on Sunday."

Fittipaldo then turned to Iheanachor, whose development has become more relevant because of the injury. The rookie needs meaningful work with the starters to become comfortable with the communication, timing and speed of the first-team offense. Fautanu's limited availability gave him precisely that opportunity during the practice week.

"The good thing about this week was what Max Iheanachor needed was reps with the starters, and he got a bunch of reps this week with the starters," Fittipaldo said. "That was one of the benefits of Fautanu being a little banged up because it got Iheanachor valuable reps with the first-team offense."

Those repetitions do not mean Iheanachor is guaranteed to play Sunday. They do mean Pittsburgh has done more than hand him a backup assignment and hope he can handle it. Practice work with the starting unit gives the rookie a better chance of entering the lineup without being completely unfamiliar with the players beside him.

Steelers Find A Hidden Benefit In Fautanu's Promising Progress

The ideal outcome remains Fautanu recovering well enough to start without the ankle limiting his effectiveness. Pittsburgh should not put him on the field simply because he can tolerate discomfort. An offensive tackle who cannot move or anchor properly can create problems for the quarterback and the entire blocking plan.

If Fautanu cannot go, Iheanachor's first-team repetitions become one of the most valuable developments of the week. Young linemen often need time to adjust to NFL technique and game speed, and emergency snaps can expose any preparation they missed. Pittsburgh used the injury situation to reduce that risk before making its final decision.

Fittipaldo's observations therefore provided encouraging news on both possible paths. Fautanu looked better than his Wednesday absence might have suggested, while Iheanachor received the work necessary to become a more realistic alternative. Mike McCarthy can now evaluate Fautanu's ankle knowing the rookie spent the week preparing beside the starters.

Do you expect Troy Fautanu to play Sunday, or could Max Iheanachor make his regular-season debut? Share your Steelers thoughts with me on X at @anthonyghalkias and follow me for more Steelers coverage.

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