The Pittsburgh Steelers are a week out from their 2024 season-opener, and there are still a lot of questions about who will be starting on the offensive line. Injuries to both Isaac Seumalo and Troy Fautanu have made things a bit murky. Seumalo will miss some time with a pectoral injury, but Fautanu will probably be fully healthy by the time of opening kickoff next Sunday. The coaching staff will need to figure out if they are comfortable to thrust the rookie into the starting lineup, especially with limited practices leading up to the game.
If Fautanu isn't able to practice every day leading up to Pittsburgh's game against the Atlanta Falcons, it's unlikely Head Coach Mike Tomlin will decide to throw him into the fire. Pittsburgh is already starting rookie Zach Frazier at center, and they will have either Spencer Anderson or Mason McCormick starting in place of Seumalo. Insider Gerry Dulac imagines that Seumalo's injury will be the final nail in the coffin for Fautanu to ride the bench during Week 1.
"Fautanu missed the final two preseason games after injuring his knee in the first half of the opening game against the Houston Texans. The Steelers had already decided to elevate him to the starting lineup and keep him there for the start of the regular season, but his injury may have delayed the move. Also, with the injury to guard Isaac Seumalo, the Steelers may elect not to start Fautanu because that would mean they would have two rookies and an untested guard in Spencer Anderson on the starting offensive line in Atlanta."
Dulac believes the inexperience of Anderson starting in place of Seumalo would lead the staff to hold Fautanu out of his potential debut. This would leave Dan Moore Jr. as the starting left tackle and Broderick Jones as the starting right tackle. If Fautanu does get the start, it is likely that Jones would be moved to the left side. This would mean four out of the five starters on the offensive line are either rookies or players in their second season.
Anderson was Pittsburgh's seventh-round pick during the 2023 NFL Draft. He has been praised for his versatility, but ahead of the 2024 season, he has only been played guard. However, he has experience playing all positions on the line. He doesn't have much experience playing in meaningful NFL games, as he only played two offensive snaps during his rookie season.
Who trots out on the field on Sunday as Pittsburgh's starting tackles will be intriguing. Fautanu struggled in the one preseason game he played, and has been injured ever since. Jones has also struggled on the right side as he has been dealing with a right arm injury, but the organization wants to get him back to his natural position at left tackle. Moore has seemed to play fairly decently ahead of the season, and he probably has the best chance to start out of the three tackles.
Steelers Need Offensive Line To Gel Rather Quickly
The offensive line has been a weakness in Pittsburgh for a handful of seasons. A lot has been invested in it in an effort to improve the unit, and the team has a lot of promising young talent. However, it is important that the starting five begins to gel and get used to playing with one another.
Injuries are impossible to avoid, and there is no one to blame for that. But, having Jones flip-flop between right and left tackle is irresponsible. It just hinders his development. If the team wants him to play left tackle, play him at left tackle. As soon as Fautanu recovers from his knee injury, put him on the right side. Pittsburgh has too much talent on the defensive side of the ball for the coaching staff to be wreckless with the offensive line and allow the unit to hold the team back.
