The Pittsburgh Steelers have been looking for a spark on the offensive line after a couple of rough weeks to begin the 2026 season. First-round rookie Max Iheanachor is expecting to start soon, and while third-round guard Gennings Dunker is seen as the third-string in his spot, it felt like it would only be a matter of time before he got a shot too; just to see if he could be an improvement somewhere. Either way, both players are expected to be key pieces of the future whether they play soon or not.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Max Iheanachor (71) during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Unfortunately, that won't happen anytime soon. As numerous reports stated — and later confirmed by the Steelers themselves — Dunker will be placed on Injured Reserve (IR) prior to Week 3.
Steelers have placed rookie G Gennings Dunker on IR and signed RB Travis Homer to the active roster.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) September 26, 2026
Team also elevated RB Lew Nichols and DB Doneiko Slaughter to the game day roster, potentially indicating that Joey Porter Jr. won’t make his season debut Sunday.
Even if Dunker wasn't expected to play soon, this could still be a big negative occurrence toward his development. He needs all the practice reps that he can get to improve his pass protection. Missing 4-6 weeks won't help at all.
He has a lot of raw talent, but it will take a lot of time for him to put it all together. He already had a slim chance to play on offense in 2026, so barring more injuries, that chance is now tanking quickly.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (73) during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Dunker's injury came during practice when he got rolled up on during a play on Thursday. While this IR stint is very unfortunate, it could have been a whole lot worse.
Many times, those plays lead to season-ending injuries. The fact that he doesn't need knee surgery and can return in November is a positive sign at least. For now, he just needs to get all the mental reps that he can.
Steelers' Other Roster Moves
With Dunker going on IR, running back Travis Homer is taking his spot. He saw some time in Week 2 as a practice squad elevation, and now, he is expected to see more action with Rico Dowdle being injured. Meanwhile, running back Lew Nichols and defensive back Doneiko Slaughter are being elevated for the game, with the former coming in to help with depth at that spot.
This is Slaughter's third elevation of the year, so the Steelers will have to decide if they want to bring him onto the 53-man roster or release him after this contest. Considering the whole situation around Joey Porter Jr., it seems more likely that he will be on the team for the rest of the year.
What do you think about Dunker going on IR? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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