Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman and Super Bowl Champion Trai Essex believes the team needs to make one more move before the season starts.
Between Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu, the two tackles have just one career start at their current positions. Jones is switching from right tackle to left tackle, and Fautanu is returning from a serious knee injury.
Essex says the Steelers need to sign another veteran tackle before the first week of the 2025 season.
“As it stands right now, I can’t imagine the Steelers going into the season with the current tackle situation being what it is,” Essex said on X. “2 guys with 1 start between them at their current position being the bookends for a 41 yr old QB?! Obviously gotta see what they can do in these preseason games, but I’m thinking a vet is probably getting signed before the end of camp.”
Jones said Friday there is not much difference from right to left tackle, and downplayed the significance of moving around throughout the early portions of his career. With that in mind, his technique needs to improve.
“No, I don’t think it’s different,” Jones said. “I’ve been in the starting lineup. It’s still the same position to me. I’m trying to become a starter. They’re looking at me to be left tackle, so I just got to focus on that.”
If the Steelers can get a big jump out of Jones in his third year, it could really change the trajectory of the offensive line.
For Fautanu, he needs to have confidence in his knee, and he is treating this like it is his second season, not a redshirt year.
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