The Pittsburgh Steelers selected offensive tackle Troy Fautanu in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, a pick widely praised by analysts. Many experts believed Fautanu would be drafted much earlier, so when he was still available at 20th overall, the Steelers saw it as a no-brainer to grab him. His potential made him one of the top value picks of the draft.
AP
Steelers' Troy Fautanu gets introduced by Team President Art Rooney II.
In his Steelers debut during the first preseason game against the Houston Texans, Fautanu faced some challenges. He allowed two sacks on Justin Fields and struggled overall in his first NFL appearance. After the game, it was revealed that Fautanu had been dealing with a knee injury, which may have impacted his performance. Despite these difficulties, Steelers insider Gerry Dulac reported that Pittsburgh was still planning to name Fautanu the starting right tackle.
However, this didn’t materialize. Although Fautanu was active for the Steelers’ Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, he did not play an offensive snap. Fans were left wondering when they would see him back on the field and contributing to the offense. Attention now turns to Week 2 against the Denver Broncos, as many anticipate Fautanu getting his opportunity to prove himself.
On Wednesday, Fautanu expressed his feelings about not playing. He admitted it was disappointing but made it clear that he's ready for his next opportunity. Steelers fans are eager to see what he can bring to the table.
"Man, I was ready to go," Fautanu said. "I was kind of waiting for them to call my number, waiting to get in and get some reps out there. It didn't happen, but the only thing that's important is that we got the win. So I'm super excited for whatever comes soon."
Fautanu was grateful for the team’s victory over the Falcons, but admitted he expected to get some playing time, which ultimately didn’t happen.
Steelers.com
Steelers' Troy Fautanu during a preseason game against the Houston Texans.
However, there's good news for both Fautanu and Steelers fans eager to see him in action. He shared that he feels fully ready to return to the field, confident that his knee injury is now behind him. Fautanu hinted that his opportunity to see regular season action could come soon, possibly as early as the upcoming game against the Broncos.
"I know I'm ready," Fautanu said. "The biggest thing for me was confidence. This week, I'm hitting the ground running."
The Steelers and their fans have had concerns about Dan Moore Jr., who has often been criticized for poor performances. However, against the Falcons, he was dominant. In fact, Moore was one of the best offensive tackles in the league during Week 1. He’s currently dealing with some ankle swelling, but Head Coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the issue, indicating it’s not too serious.
The Steelers’ offensive line looked solid in their win over the Falcons, and they’ll look to build on that performance. It’s still unclear where or how Fautanu would fit into the lineup if he were to start.
Steelers' Troy Fautanu Ready To Make His Regular Season Debut
On Wednesday, Fautanu took reps at right tackle with both the first and second teams, suggesting that’s where he would play if he gets snaps against Denver. Steelers fans are eager to see him in action, waiting to see when he’ll make his debut.
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Steelers' Troy Fautanu smiles as he gets introduced to the team.
The Steelers’ offensive line was expected to take a big leap this season, and they showed promise in Week 1. Now, they’ll need to continue improving, especially with the absence of their top lineman, Isaac Seumalo.
Getting Seumalo back to full health would be a significant boost for Pittsburgh, but until then, they’ll rely on whoever is available and aim for another strong performance against Denver.
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