The Steelers shall be with out their beginning proper sort out for the foreseeable future. Rookie Troy Fautanu injured his knee throughout Friday’s apply and is sidelined indefinitely, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The lineman is about to endure additional testing. Offensive sort out Broderick Jones instructed reporters Friday that his teammate suffered “just a little tweak” to his knee (through ESPN’s Brooke Pryor).
The Steelers chosen Fautanu with the Twentieth-overall choose on this previous yr’s draft. The rookie was sidelined with an MCL damage in the course of the preseason, and he didn’t find yourself seeing the sphere for the workforce’s season-opener. With Jones struggling at RT, coach Mike Tomlin mentioned the workforce would possible rotate tackles throughout Week 2.
Whereas Fautanu garnered the beginning, Tomlin did initially keep on with 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 moving 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 possible flip again to Jones. Outdoors of LT Dan Moore Jr., the workforce’s solely different wholesome offensive sort out is apply squad rookie Doug Nester. For what it’s price, Jones acknowledged his struggles by way of the primary two weeks, and Tomlin believes the previous first-round choose is prime for a rebound.
“He’s a gifted younger participant,” Tomlin mentioned (through 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 present him a possibility to maneuver previous it as a pacesetter.”
