Steelers' Chuks Okorafor Got Advice From Savvy Vet Over His Benching: "Take This Personal"

Pittsburgh Steelers right tackle, Chukwuma Okorafor, was benched ahead of the Week 9 game against the Tennessee Titans. The reason for his removal and the insertion of rookie Broderick Jones is not quite clear. Head Coach Mike Tomlin told the press that he felt like Jones had been working hard and was deserving of a start. He added that he hoped it would give the offense the "spark" they have been missing the first three quarters of almost every game in 2023. However, when asked himself about his demotion, the six-year veteran said that it was because of something he said. Regardless of the reason, Okorafor was understandably upset and turned to a former Steelers offensive lineman for some advice. 

Ramon Foster played offensive guard for the Steelers for 11 seasons and fought hard to earn the right to protect future Hall of Fame quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. Recently Foster, who now lives in Tennessee where he is a sideline reporter for Titans Radio, was in Pittsburgh for the game. He also co-hosts a podcast with reporter Dejan Kovacevic called The Ramon Foster Show which airs on DK Pittsburgh Sports, and was asked about Okorafor on a recent episode.

Both Kovacevic and Foster have expressed their support and respect for Okorafor in the past. When Okorafor was drafted by the Steelers in 2018, he was playing with Foster and they developed a relationship. He even started in 2019 in Foster's place as a guard when he was out with an injury. They also both agree that the fact that they think Okorafor is playing solidly, doesn't mean that Jones isn't deserving of a shot. While fans have been clambering for Jones to start since Week 1, the podcasters both understand that rookies need time to develop. Foster said that while he was in Pittsburgh for the Titans game, he was approached by Okorafor on the sideline for some advice. 

"That's my dude. I was down on the field before the game and Chuks came up to me. It was like, 'Hey, did you hear the news?' I was like, 'No, what?' I wanted him to kind of tell me what had happened and he was like, 'Well, they gonna start Broderick.' I told him to take this personal, everybody has this moment."

Foster said the reason why doesn't really matter. It doesn't matter if he was benched as a part of a disciplinary action or if it was to let Jones have a shot - the end result is the same. Foster said he can't just hang his head in defeat. He said he told him he has to fight back and be positive. 

"That's my thing for Chuks, is never again, because you never know who's going to go down and who's got to go up. He can't sulk, and that's what I let him know. Whether it be here in Pittsburgh or whether it be somewhere else, Chuks. Now you've had that real moment. Honestly, DK, considering his pathway, this may be his real, first NFL business moment because he started young, then he got the deal soon after COVID hit and now he's been the starter just because."

Kovacevic agrees with Foster saying that Okorafor had pushed his way into the starting right tackle job. However, the one real knock against Okorafor, and what draws him some of his sharpest criticism, is that he doesn't always finish his plays. The way he sometimes looks "lazy" at the end of plays, has allowed defenses to get to quarterback Kenny Pickett. Foster said that he knows that being benched is a fixable thing because he lived that experience. 

Steelers' Ramon Foster Sees Some Of Himself In Chuks Okorafor          

Foster was an undrafted free agent in his rookie year when the Steelers signed him. During his first season, he was named as a backup guard, but thanks to some injuries, he started the last several games of the season. He found himself in a similar position his first two seasons - he was named back up out of camp, but wasn't able to retain that spot and went back to competing for a job in camp. 

Foster was able to ultimately win the starting job for good in his third season. He said that is how he knows Okorafor can fix this if he puts his mind to it. He tells Kovacevic that there is something that fixes his inability to finish plays.  

"You know what fixes that DK? Heartbreak. Heartbreak does that to you. I was there once I got back in that second time around after my rookie year, I was never going back to the bench. I like hearing my name out of the tunnel. So I hope this is what he feels."

It worked for Foster. He spent the rest of his career as a starting guard in one of the best offensive lines in football. As for Jones vs. Okorafor, the rookie seems to have done enough to "warrant an extended look" according to Tomlin's press conference. The official depth chart for the Week 10 game against the Green Bay Packers did not list a starter. Instead, it says "Jones or Okorafor" and during that same press conference, Tomlin made it clear that "or means or" and we should expect to see either. 

What do you think about Okorafor vs. Jones? Who would you rather see start? Click to comment below! 

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