The Steelers will probably be with out their beginning proper deal with for the foreseeable future. Rookie Troy Fautanu injured his knee throughout Friday’s follow and is sidelined indefinitely, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The lineman is ready to bear additional testing. Offensive deal with Broderick Jones advised reporters Friday that his teammate suffered “somewhat tweak” to his knee (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor).
The Steelers chosen Fautanu with the Twentieth-overall choose on this previous 12 months’s draft. The rookie was sidelined with an MCL harm through the preseason, and he didn’t find yourself seeing the sector for the group’s season-opener. With Jones struggling at RT, coach Mike Tomlin mentioned the group would doubtless rotate tackles throughout Week 2.
While Fautanu garnered the start, Tomlin did initially follow his rotational plan. Nonetheless, as Pryor factors out, Jones proceeded to commit three penalties in a six-play span, resulting in the rookie enjoying out the competition. Fautanu completed the sport stepping into 55 offensive snaps, with the lineman incomes reward from Professional Soccer Focus for his pass-blocking prowess.
With Fautanu now sidelined, the Steelers will doubtless flip again to Jones. Exterior of LT Dan Moore Jr., the group’s solely different wholesome offensive deal with is follow squad rookie Doug Nester. For what it’s price, Jones acknowledged his struggles by means of the primary two weeks, and Tomlin believes the previous first-round choose is prime for a rebound.
“He’s a proficient younger participant,” Tomlin mentioned (by way of Pryor). “I’m certain he suffered some disappointment by way of Troy beginning. It’s a pure factor, however he’s obtained to maneuver previous it. I obtained to provide him a chance to maneuver previous it as a frontrunner.”
