Don’t look now, but the Steelers’ battle for the starting right tackle job just got a whole lot more interesting. Not only is Broderick Jones up and running without restriction, Max Iheanachor is making serious strides. We had beat writers telling us over the spring that Dylan Cook beginning the season as the starter was all but a foregone conclusion.
Well, not so fast. While Cook is still running as the first-team right tackle, there is plenty of time for Iheanachor and even Jones to make their move. The latter, after recovering from a major neck injury, is still working his way into football shape. But of the three, he is the only one with actual experience as the Steelers’ starting right tackle.
The Steelers drafted Jones in the first round in 2023 as their left tackle of the future, though he began on the right side. During his first two seasons, he made 26 starts at right tackle (and one at left) and has 38 career starts. Max Iheanachor, of course, has zero starts. Dylan Cook started four games at the end of last season at left tackle following Jones’ injury.
Many doubted that Jones would be able to participate at the start of training camp, but he has fully practiced so far. Many questioned whether Iheanachor could play so early in his NFL career, given his lack of experience. If the first day of padded practices is any indication, that assessment may have been premature. In other words, the Steelers’ battle for the starting right tackle job is very much underway.
Of course, it’s still too early to say whether Jones will have enough time to not only get himself back up to playing weight but also get into a rhythm sufficient enough to start in an NFL game. And just because Iheanachor acquitted himself well in the first day in pads doesn’t mean he will in the next dozen or so. These days are just setting the table for what is to come, especially during the preseason games.
Jones’ injury helped prompt the Steelers to draft Iheanachor, who, one way or another, figures to be their starting right tackle at some point whether he wins this initial battle or not. After all, they took him in the first round. Troy Fautanu started on the right side last year, but they moved him to the left side as his new long-term home.
Of the three tackles battling to start on the Steelers’ right side, Iheanachor is the only one who doesn’t really have position flexibility. At least he doesn’t yet, but if he loses the job, the Steelers will surely cross-train him. That’s what they did with Broderick Jones as a rookie in 2023 when he lost out to Dan Moore Jr. By midseason, he was starting on the right side.
Many thought that Iheanachor might take a similar path, but he may be on an accelerated track. Again, it’s still too early. But at least from what we’ve seen to this point, the Steelers’ right tackle battle may be more competitive than most anticipated even just a day or two ago.