The Pittsburgh Steelers have recently prioritized strengthening their offensive line. In the 2023 NFL Draft, they traded up to select offensive lineman Broderick Jones in the first round. They continued this trend in the 2024 NFL Draft by using their first-round pick on another offensive lineman, Troy Fautanu.
Steelers.com
Steelers' Broderick Jones speaks to members of the media.
Fautanu has been dealing with a knee injury, but Gerry Dulac reported that he was expected to start at right tackle a couple of weeks ago. However, when the Steelers released their first official depth chart on Tuesday, it raised some concerns about the state of the offensive line.
First *official* depth chart of the 2024 regular season lists Spencer Anderson as LG Isaac Seumalo’s backup and Broderick Jones as the starting RT with Troy Fautanu as his backup. pic.twitter.com/c6vx789nBp
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) September 3, 2024
Steelers fans have two major concerns regarding the official depth chart. First, Dan Moore Jr. is slated to start at left tackle, a position where many fans are uncertain about his reliability. The second concern centers around Fautanu, who was previously reported to be the starting right tackle.
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Steelers' Dan Moore Jr. runs out the tunnel before an away game.
The Steelers typically prefer to ease rookies into the starting lineup, as they did with Jones during the 2023 season. That’s why it was surprising when Dulac reported that Fautanu was expected to start at right tackle. However, despite the initial report, it now appears Fautanu will have to wait before being inserted into the starting lineup.
The Steelers' top offensive lineman, Isaac Seumalo, has suffered an injury that will sideline him for some time. In his absence, Spencer Anderson is expected to step in as the starting left guard. Anderson will hold down the position until Seumalo returns to full health.
Steelers' Troy Fautanu Now Listed As Right Tackle 2
Fautanu is now listed as the backup to Jones, leading fans to speculate that Fautanu might not be healthy enough to start or that the coaching staff doesn’t believe he’s ready yet.
When the Steelers selected Fautanu in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the pick was widely praised by pundits. Many draft experts viewed Fautanu as a top-10 talent, but concerns about his injury history allowed him to slip to the Steelers at 20th overall. The Steelers were lauded for getting such good value with their selection.
Now, Steelers fans will have to wait to see Fautanu in the starting lineup. While it's not time to overreact, the injury concerns that caused Fautanu to drop in the draft might be resurfacing. However, it's likely just a minor setback and Fautanu will be ok. The Steelers are hopeful that Fautanu will be at full health and ready to start when the time is right.
AP
Steelers' Troy Fautanu smiles as he gets introduced to the team.
The offensive line was expected to improve in the 2024 season, but Jones’ preseason performance has given fans reason to worry. While some pundits view Moore as a solid tackle, many fans remain unconvinced. With Moore starting at left tackle and Fautanu's situation unclear, there are lingering concerns about whether the offensive line will meet expectations.
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