The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a mess offensively to begin the 2026 season. Thankfully the team was able to sneak out a victory in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons as the team faced a third-string quarterback, because it is hard to imagine this version of the Steelers will be able to win many games in 2026 if the offense doesn't get back on track. There have been plenty of identifiable issues with the offensive unit, but the main area of concern for most people has been the offensive line. The group is clearly a weakness despite the amount of draft capital that has been poured into it over recent years.
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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.
Many fans argue that there wasn't a single player on the offensive line that played well against the New England Patriots, but if two bright spots had to be chosen, they would probably be Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier. Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook are on the path towards being replaced in the starting lineup, and Troy Fautanu just has not shown the signs of growth that the franchise was hoping to see from the former first-round pick.
His poor play to begin the 2026 season has some explanations. For one, he is transitioning back to the left side of the offensive line. Left tackle is his natural position, but there is probably some rust to shake off after playing right tackle in 2025. He also suffered an ankle injury in Week 1. He missed a practice, but he was back for the game against New England. Beat writer Mark Kaboly believes that injury may be bothering him more than he is letting on. He stated this on a recent episode of Kaboly + Mack.
"Don’t underestimate another thing too. I think Troy Fautanu’s ankle-ish thing is more painful than you think," Kaboly said. "Honestly, it’s like a calf-ish, ankle-ish, and I hate those injuries that people try to play through. Because knock on wood, you know what typically comes after chronic calf ailments.”
There are two parts to this statement from Kaboly, the first being that the initial injury might be more painful than most think. The injury happened against the Falcons in Week 1, and Fautanu came out of the game for a play. He reentered the game, but the injury was then being managed throughout the next week. The other part, which is more concerning, is the chance for further injury.
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Steelers' Troy Fautanu speaks with wide receiver Germie Bernard during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) in 2026.
What Kaboly was alluding to was possibly an Achilles injury. It has been evident that there is a link between calf injuries, strains, and Achilles tears, and that is something the Steelers should be considering with Fautanu. There hasn't been any sort of chatter about Fautanu potentially missing time to allow his ankle and/or calf to heal up, but resting him might be the smart thing to do for the foreseeable future, especially after missing nearly the whole 2024 season due to injury. With back-to-back division games on the horizon however, and pivotal AFC positioning on the line, Fautanu may likely want to power through any discomfort to help his team.
Steelers Already Facing Offensive Line Woes In 2026
Aside from the unit not playing well, there is plenty of reason to be concerned about the offensive line in Pittsburgh. Fautanu's injury is one reason, while Anderson is also dealing with some pain. The right guard injured his leg early on against the Patriots, and the injury has been diagnosed as a bone chip. He can play through the injury, and he did against New England, but it might hinder his performance. The offensive line can't take another bad performance, which is why Hoffman might be getting ready to start at right guard against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3.
What do you think about Fautanu being at risk of a worse injury? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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