Max Iheanachor Mike McCarthy
Max Iheanachor Mike McCarthy
After missing the first two preseason games while dealing with an injury suffered in training camp, Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Max Iheanachor made his debut Thursday night in the Steelers’ 28-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Though Iheanachor had an up-and-down performance, it was one that first-year head coach Mike McCarthy was happy to see.
“We wanted to get him about 20 plays tonight and then we felt that we got to that point, we got him an extra series, so I’m not sure what his count came up, but most important thing is he got to play,” McCarthy told reporters of Iheanachor, according to video via the team’s website. “I mean, he needs to play. So just the conditioning of it, the speed of it, coming up here and playing on the road I think is awesome for a first-time lineman do that.
“The crowd was good there at the end. I thought the two-minute drill for our young guys to hear the crowd noise was a really good experience.”
Iheanachor played against the Bills. While he was charged with one sack allowed and penalized twice — both holding calls — it was nice to see him on the field.
Iheanachor was opening some eyes and putting himself in the conversation for the starting right tackle job prior to his training camp injury. But that injury was a clear setback and opened the door for Dylan Cook to remain the starter and for Broderick Jones to enter the mix.
Neither seized the opportunity, leading to Iheanachor getting back into the mix Thursday night. The sack allowed wasn’t all that surprising considering it was his first NFL action.
“I saw what happened on the sack. I think it was just more on his set,” McCarthy said. “He was trying to be too aggressive. It almost looked like he was in a three-step set versus a five-step.”
Here’s a look.
Will Howard sacked AGAIN #Steelers pic.twitter.com/5CWSHFRFqc
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) August 28, 2026
The sack showed some of the growing pains Iheanachor will need to go through in the NFL, but he seemed to bounce back nicely. He even had a highlight-reel block in space on Eli Heidenreich’s 9-yard touchdown run, pulling right and getting out in front of his fellow rookie to clear the way.
Excitement is high surrounding Iheanachor, and for one night at least he showed flashes of what he can become in the trenches.
Steelers
Steelers