Steelers' Mike Tomlin Provides Big Update On Broderick Jones After Strong Performance

The Pittsburgh Steelers have seen enough. Now two months into the 2023 season, a few rookies have officially inserted themselves fully into the starting lineup. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has been trending in that direction for weeks, and the coaching staff recently admitted that he was a starter. As for the other one, Broderick Jones has been listed as a co-starter at right tackle in the team's updated depth chart.

Jones got his second career start in Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans, but it was at right tackle rather than the left side. The depth chart has him listed as a co-starter alongside fellow right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor. That means, for now, Dan Moore Jr. is the guy at left tackle. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin was asked about the depth chart change in his press conference on Tuesday, and he acknowledged a decision hasn't been made for Week 10 yet.

"I thought he did some really good things. I thought we did some really good things. It's probably worthy of an extended look considering he did those things on a short week. I'm not going all the way in, but we'll probably take another look at him and see what it looks like this week," Tomlin said on Tuesday. "I don't know that he is better suited [on the right side]. Often times, the young guy is the one that has to display versatility."

Okorafor was benched for disciplinary reasons in Week 9, thus why Jones made the transition to the right side. Tomlin confirmed this in his press conference, citing Okorafor's outburst as a "significant reason" for Jones getting the start. The rookie has now started a game on each side, and he's excelled in each role. As Tomlin mentioned, versatility is something that young guys have to display and Jones has done just that. 

Now, there seems to be little doubt as to who is the best offensive tackle on the Steelers roster. While the team hasn't written off Okorafor quite yet, he'll have to prove himself to earn his starting job back. That won't be easy against the talent of a guy like Jones, who has allowed minimal pressure in his extended playing time. A decision on the right tackle job will be made later in the week, as the team continues to prepare for the Green Bay Packers.

Have The Steelers Found Their No. 1 CB In Porter?

Porter continues to excel as an outside cornerback role as well, as he's now become a full-time player. In Week 9, he took it upon himself to ask the coaching staff if he could shadow Titans star wideout DeAndre Hopkins. It worked out quite well, as Hopkins' impact was kept minimal, particularly in the second half. There are still some improvements to be made for the Penn State product, which should be expected.

His tackling remains suspect, something that contributed to his delay of getting onto the field this season. Tomlin acknowledged that due to his focus on shadowing Hopkins in Week 9, Porter didn't have to be very involved in the run game. That benefitted the Steelers defense, and they were able to slow down the Titans offense throughout. Porter's coverage skills were too good to ignore, especially with the veteran outside corners struggling for Pittsburgh.

Porter remains a bit too handsy at times too, which can lead to some penalties. Regardless, he's lived up to the hype of being the 32nd overall pick. Fellow rookie Keeanu Benton remains a reserve for the time being, and with the return of Cam Heyward, he can continue to be eased into more playing time. Like the other two rookies, Benton has looked exceptional in limited action in 2023.

What are your thoughts on Jones being listed as a co-starter at right tackle? Do you think he should replace Moore or Okorafor's spot in the starting lineup? How do you think Porter has performed in the first two months of the season? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!

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