The Pittsburgh Steelers used their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to select tackle Troy Fautanu, a move that was widely praised as a high-value choice. Thanks to some injury concerns that caused him to slip slightly in the draft, the Steelers were able to secure him later in the first round. However, after watching Fautanu's performance in the first preseason game against the Houston Texans, Steelers fans were not very impressed.
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Steelers' Troy Fautanu in his first preseason game versus the Houston Texans.
Fautanu struggled significantly, allowing two sacks on quarterback Justin Fields. Following the game, it was revealed that Fautanu had injured his knee and would be sidelined for about two weeks. While this isn't ideal for Pittsburgh, it's better news than initially feared.
In a surprising turn, Gerry Dulac reported on Monday that the Steelers have decided to name Fautanu the starting right tackle. The timing is unexpected, given his recent poor performance and the current knee injury. Nonetheless, it was part of the Steelers' plan to have Fautanu as the starter throughout the preseason and into the season. Despite the setback, Fautanu is still set to start at right tackle when the season begins.
"The Steelers don’t want to wait any longer with rookie Troy Fautanu, even though they have no other choice right now. After three weeks of training camp and just one preseason game, they are ready to hand the starting right tackle job over to their No. 1 draft choice."
When the Steelers released their unofficial depth chart, it listed Fautanu as the backup to Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle. However, Dulac reports that Fautanu will actually be starting at right tackle, which suggests that Broderick Jones is likely to take over as the starting left tackle.
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Steelers' Dan Moore Jr. and Broderick Jones practice against each other during the team's 2023 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Jones will compete with Moore for the left tackle position, but with Fautanu sidelined, Jones is expected to remain at right tackle until Fautanu returns. Given Jones’s significant advantage over Moore, he is anticipated to secure the starting job at right tackle with relative ease.
"They planned to start him in Saturday night’s preseason game against the Buffalo Bills and leave him there for the start of the regular season until he injured his knee Friday night against the Houston Texans," Dulac wrote.
Fautanu will miss the remainder of the preseason, which is a significant setback for the Steelers. They had hoped to give the rookie additional reps before the season, but that’s no longer possible.
However, Fautanu is expected to be ready for Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. Dulac noted that naming Fautanu the starting right tackle underscores how highly the team regards him.
Steelers View Troy Fautanu As A Top Offensive Lineman Already
Dulac also suggested that the Steelers view Fautanu as their second-best offensive lineman. The offensive line has generated considerable excitement this offseason, reflecting the team's commitment to investing in young talent. This strategy was evident in the 2023 NFL Draft when they traded up to select Jones.
In his rookie season of 2023, Jones started 11 games at right tackle. It seems unlikely that the Steelers will keep him on the bench, so the plan likely involves moving him to left tackle. The intention appears to be to start Fautanu at right tackle and develop both players in their respective positions over the next few years.
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Steelers' Troy Fautanu warms up during rookie camp.
The Steelers have asked Jones to play out of position, but he has embraced the challenge without complaint. For now, he will remain at right tackle until Fautanu returns. Once Fautanu is back, Jones will compete for the left tackle spot and aim to secure it for the 2024 season—a challenge he should be well-prepared for. While it's exciting to see Fautanu named the starter, the timing of the announcement is somewhat surprising.
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