The Pittsburgh Steelers are now 5-2 after taking down the New Orleans Saints in Paris, France in Week 7 of the 2026 season. The game wasn't necessarily the best win, and the team has things to work on throughout the next week while preparing for its Week 8 clash with the Cleveland Browns. Red zone efficiency has been a problem specifically throughout the start of the 2026 season, and the offense was just 1/3 on meaningful possessions that reached the red zone against the Saints. There were also some issues on the offensive line during the win over New Orleans.
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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Troy Fautanu (76) prepares to block New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young (99) during the third quarter of a game at Stade de France Stadium.
The unit is arguably playing better than it has all season, but the play of left tackle Troy Fautanu has been spotty at times. He was the team's first-round pick back in the 2024 NFL Draft, and it is fair to assume that the team was hoping he would have developed a little bit more by now. To be fair he has flipped sides on the offensive line, but his play in some games has been concerning. He seemed to struggle at times with Chase Young during the win, and that led to multiple pressures on Aaron Rodgers.
Beat writer Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan on Monday morning to discuss the win, and he did mention Fautanu's struggles. He attributed the issues to injury, even hinting that the left tackle might be more injured than people think.
"I think he's a little more hurt than he's letting on, too," Kaboly said. "I mean, I think that's been going on for a while, no excuses, but he needs to play better. The offensive line is coming together."
There has been a ton of speculation about Fautanu dealing with injuries throughout the 2026 season. He exited Pittsburgh's Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons briefly due to an ankle injury. He has also been dealing with a nagging issue since training camp. There have not been many details released, but the left tackle is fighting through pain to be on the field each and every week.
Barry Reeger / Imagn Images
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) celebrates with offensive tackle Troy Fautanu (76) after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium.
Fautanu has still been decent, and there is no doubt that he should still be starting even with his injury. His backup is Dylan Cook, who played well at left tackle near the end of the 2025 season, but making a change like that would be a significant drop-off. The rest of the offensive line is playing extremely well, so in a way it is making up for Fautanu's lapses. The Steelers do have their bye week approaching in Week 9, which could be a good chance for Fautanu and other players that are banged up to get healthy. However, if this was an injury that could heal in a week or two without playing, the team probably would have already held him out.
Steelers' Offensive Line Has Stepped Up When It Mattered Most
Pittsburgh's offensive line is going to be what drives this team, especially with a 42-year-old lining up at quarterback. He is not as mobile as he once was, so it is obvious how important the offensive line is when it comes to Pittsburgh's overall success. The group seems much improved over what was on the field in 2025, and if Fautanu can find a way to heal up completely, it is hard to imagine just how good the unit could really be.
The offensive line has a tough matchup coming up in Week 8 as the Steelers will be taking on the Browns. Cleveland has a fierce defense, and Rodgers was sacked five times the last time these two teams played one another. Pittsburgh will need better protection in order to get the win this time around.
What do you think about Fautanu possibly playing right through injury? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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