PITTSBURGH — Days away from making his second profession begin, Pittsburgh Steelers first-round sort out Troy Fautanu sustained an damage in Friday’s observe, making his standing for Sunday’s dwelling opener towards the L.A. Chargers doubtful.
Fautanu, who sprained his left MCL within the first preseason recreation, left observe Friday after “somewhat tweak,” fellow sort out Broderick Jones confirmed after observe. With Fautanu’s early exit, Jones, who the Steelers traded as much as choose within the first spherical of the 2023 draft, stepped in and practiced with the primary crew offensive line at proper sort out simply days after being benched in the course of the win towards the Denver Broncos.
“We actually do not know what his standing goes to be,” Jones mentioned of Fautanu. “I stuffed in for him after which simply going to roll from there after he will get his MRI and stuff, and we’ll simply work out what is going on on from there.
“The coach goes to make the choice on the finish of the day. We obtained two days, he obtained a day and a half to relaxation, no matter it’s. I actually do not even know what occurred to him. I ain’t seen him but, so we simply determine it out and go from there.”
Fautanu obtained his first profession begin in Denver, however coach Mike Tomlin mentioned he initially deliberate to rotate tackles in that recreation. Jones, although, dedicated three penalties in a six-play span and obtained changed by Fautanu for the remainder of the sport.
“I performed unhealthy,” Jones mentioned this week of the Week 2 recreation. “That is all that issues on the finish of the day. You f— up, you get pulled.
“That is all it’s. I’ve simply obtained to be higher. Proceed to develop as a participant, as a person and take the nice with the unhealthy.”
Tomlin voiced his help for Jones in his Tuesday information convention and mentioned Jones would have “a chance to rebound” this week.
“He is a gifted younger participant,” Tomlin mentioned. “I am certain he suffered some disappointment when it comes to Troy beginning. It is a pure factor, however he is obtained to maneuver previous it. I obtained to present him a chance to maneuver previous it as a pacesetter.”
To assist curb the in-game penalties, the Steelers had officers at observe day-after-day this week. Usually, the crew hosts officers just for Friday’s observe.
“It provides us suggestions on the issues we are able to work on, or the issues they might see that will hinder us from doing what we have to do in the course of the recreation, so it is good,” Jones mentioned.
Jones added he was able to rebound if given the chance, and he is not dwelling on his penalty-laden efficiency.
“I really feel like I obtained higher this week throughout observe for essentially the most half,” Jones mentioned. “Simply obtained to proceed to simply keep upright, as a result of it is a lengthy season and at all times making an attempt to simply deal with the physique as a lot as doable.”
