The Pittsburgh Steelers don't have a good offensive line. It's an offensive line full of potential, and young players. But it's a group that needs to play together to eventually gel. On Thursday that plan took a wrong turn. Starting right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor sat out of practice with a back injury, and if he's unable to practice on Friday he will likely miss the opening game of the season in Cincinnati.
Photo / Jordan Schofield SteelerNation.com (Twitter JSKO_PHOTO)
The Steelers had a media session this morning prior to their Thursday practice, and there was no mention of any injury to Okorafor during those interactions. The loss of Okorafor would be a monumental advantage for the Cincinnati Bengals. Okoroafor's back up is listed as Jesse Davis who the Steelers just acquired last week via trade from the Minnesota Vikings.
With Davis just joining the team Mike Tomlin could choose to start Trent Scott who signed as a free agent late in the summer.
This morning offensive coordinator Matt Canada said that he expects Diontae Johnson to play on Sunday, but Johnson was again limited today. Tomorrow will tell the tale for Johnson, like Okorafor.
“We’re counting on him being ready to go. He was limited yesterday but we feel good about his progress,” Canada said."
All Pro Cameron Heyward is also listed on the injury report, but it doesn't appear like there is an injury for Heyward. Instead, Tomlin and the coaching staff decided to give the veteran a day off. Usually, those veterans' days off come on Wednesday's, but after the long weekend Tomlin seems to have thrown Heyward a bone today.
