The Pittsburgh Steelers made a strategic decision to completely turn over the right side of the offensive line in Week 3. Brock Hoffman got the nod at guard while first-round rookie Max Iheanachor received his first career start at tackle. The result ended up being a much more fluid operation. The unit was able to put 30 points on the scoreboard. Everyone seemed to be working in a much more efficient manner. With that, the new duo protecting Aaron Rodgers was very impressive. Now, that will be expected to continue when the team travels to play the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football.
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Steelers' offensive lineman Max Iheanachor stands on the field as the team warms up prior to getting a practice session done during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers have used three of their last four first-round selections on offensive tackles. Broderick Jones is no longer wearing the Black and Gold, while Troy Fautanu is adjusting to life on the left side. Following a rough two-week stretch from Dylan Cook, new head coach Mike McCarthy made the call to start Iheanachor. The veteran in Hoffman joined him to make things a bit easier.
One of the true positives for Iheanachor was that he did not get flagged for any pre-snap penalties. Rodgers is very demanding when it comes to his cadence, so it was great to witness the rookie not have any hiccups in that regard. To be fair, however, the contest was at Acrisure Stadium. This means that there wasn't too much noise that made it hard to operate on offense.
That will change in Week 4. The Browns have found new life and are sitting at 2-1. The winner of the showdown will be alone atop the AFC North standings. Pittsburgh is hoping to see Iheanachor play as well, or even better. This would go a long way in convincing the fan base that the right move was made back in April when he was taken with the 21st overall pick.
On Tuesday, Ben Roethlisberger went over plenty of topics on Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger regarding the Steelers' Week 3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. He did not shy away from complimenting Iheanachor. Despite this, he wanted to send a very strong warning and a message to the young lineman. It is not going to be as easy versus Cleveland on Thursday evening.
"The other thing too to take into consideration this week is it's gonna go on the road," Roethlisberger stated. "Hostile, loud, short week, which, your volume should just be — you should suck your volume, it should be the same game plan with a few tweaks here and there, but it is a different animal going on the road, I-Max. Listen, I'm excited for him. I want him to succeed. I want the line to do well. I'm just saying, it is different playing on the road, Thursday night, hostile environment, in Cleveland as opposed to playing at home against the Bungals."
It will be a fresh challenge for the right tackle. Roethlisberger played in the NFL for almost two decades and knows how tough this upcoming matchup might be for Iheanachor.
Jordan Perez / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Max Iheanachor (71) stands on the field as he participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Thursday, June 11, 2026 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
The Steelers would be ecstatic if Iheanachor can already show poise and play well on the road. It's not just any contest, either. It's an AFC North rivalry battle that demands precision and discipline. It will be crucial for the rookie to lean on the veterans on the line, and in the locker room as a whole. Rodgers isn't going to give him any free passes because of his age.
As the season progresses, the best possible scenario for Pittsburgh would be Fautanu getting better at left tackle each week, along with Iheanachor showing continued promise on the opposite end. Roethlisberger was happy with what he saw in Week 3, but made it very known that this upcoming task is going to be more difficult for the 2026 first-rounder.
Steelers May Have Finally Hit The Jackpot On The Line
It might be an overreaction to label Iheanachor as a stud after one game. It will be interesting to see how he responds and continues to perform. With that said, the offense took off versus Cincinnati and the line switch-up cannot go unnoticed. The key part now will be the Steelers' big men finding a way to repeat that performance in the hostile environment that is Cleveland.
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