Broderick Jones
Broderick Jones
There were several young players the Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to look at in their first preseason game of the year. However, a few veterans drew their interest as well. That includes Broderick Jones, who was playing in his first game since suffering a neck injury in Week 12 last year. Jones sounded happy to be back when assessing his play after being asked if the return to action felt like a confidence boost.
“I would say so,” Jones said postgame via New Pittsburgh Courier’s YouTube channel. “Just being able to put hands on somebody new that’s not on your team and actually getting to see how it looks… I felt good… I felt like I had a pretty solid performance.
“I’d always say there’s room for improvement, though. Just being out there with some of the younger guys, trying to talk and coach them through it. Just getting the feel back for myself. I would say it was okay for the first game back.”
Despite this being his fourth year in the league, Jones got put to work in the preseason opener. He played 49 total snaps, the most of any offensive player.
Steelers Snap Counts Versus Packers Preseason Game 1 (Offense, Defense, Special Teams) #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/DVP9nbLfsc
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) August 14, 2026
It’s rare to see veterans with Jones’ pedigree playing that late. However, injuries to other offensive linemen likely forced the Steelers to keep him out there. Also, that work is probably beneficial for him. Jones acknowledged in training camp that he’s still trying to get back into playing shape. Getting that level of work in during the preseason should help him get his feet under him again.
Jones gave an update on his journey to add more weight, too.
“Putting on the weight’s been good. I think I’m up three or four pounds this week. That’s a good trend. Not trying to get too heavy too fast but putting on the right weight… I’ve gotta put some weight on for sure.”
It makes sense that Jones isn’t back to full strength yet. Neck injuries can be precarious and frightening. There was some concern during the offseason that Jones would miss significant time this year. It was a pleasant surprise that he was ready when training camp began.
But the Steelers still prepared for life without him, so he doesn’t need to rush back. Having tackle depth is important, though, and Jones has good positional flexibility. That could help him stick on the Steelers’ roster, even if he isn’t a starter anymore.
We’ll see if Jones gets as much work in during the rest of the preseason. He should play well against that level of competition, even if he’s still working his way back. The key will be seeing growth from him as time goes on. He’ll be a free agent after this season, and he’ll want to be at 100 percent when that time comes. However, it sounds like he’s on the right track to return to the best version of himself.