The Steelers got a timely boost before Sunday’s trip to Gillette Stadium: Troy Fautanu is set to play against the Patriots.
Fautanu, who had been working through a foot injury during the week, was listed as questionable on Pittsburgh’s final injury report. Still, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the left tackle is expected to be active and start for the Steelers in Week 2.
That’s a welcome development for a line still trying to find its footing. Fautanu entered the season with the usual rookie adjustment period waiting for him, especially after moving back to left tackle after playing right tackle. That left-side role was familiar territory at Washington, but the transition has still come with some bumps.
He had his share of issues in camp and the preseason, and his first regular-season outing there against the Atlanta Falcons wasn’t clean. Pittsburgh still won 20-13, but Fautanu allowed three pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, and didn’t make much of an impact in the run game.
His availability was in doubt earlier in the week, too. Fautanu was initially a non-participant in practice on September 16 because of the foot injury, before getting back to full participation by September 18.
Even with the early struggles, the Steelers still view him as a player with the kind of talent that can grow into a franchise piece. And when he’s on the field, the offense is in a better spot.
For a moment this week, it looked like Pittsburgh might have to turn to first-round pick Max Iheanachor for his first start if Fautanu couldn’t go. Iheanachor did get into the Atlanta game for one snap at right tackle when Fautanu left the field briefly to be checked for an injury.
With Fautanu active and Dylan Cook still holding the right tackle job, Iheanachor will have to wait. That said, if Cook keeps struggling, the Steelers may not wait long to make a change. Iheanachor remains raw, but his upside is clearly higher than Cook’s at this stage.
In Other News...
Steelers Hit With Two Costly Absences Ahead Of Patriots Trip
The Steelers head into their trip to New England dealing with a pair of absences that change both sides of the ball. Joey Porter Jr. is out while contract negotiations continue, and Michael Pittman Jr. will miss the game because of a foot injury, leaving Pittsburgh thinner at cornerback and taking away one of its receiving options before facing the Patriots.
Germie Bernard now looks set for a bigger role with Pittman Jr. sidelined, which gives the rookie a chance to make himself part of the conversation a little earlier than expected. For a Steelers team trying to stay steady on the road, the timing of these absences only adds to the challenge of getting through a tricky AFC test. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fans Wont Like What Joey Porter Jr. Might Be Worth
The contract picture around Joey Porter Jr. has become one of the more uncomfortable talking points in Pittsburgh, because the Steelers and the young corner still have not reached an extension agreement. For a team that has invested in developing Porter into a key part of its secondary, the lack of a deal has naturally led to trade speculation, even if nothing has been publicly finalized.
What may sting most for Steelers fans is the sense that the return would not match the talent or the expectations surrounding him. Early talk suggests Pittsburgh might only be looking at a second- or third-round pick if it ever got serious about moving him, which is a far cry from the kind of haul some around the league may have once imagined. For now, the situation is still unresolved, and the longer it drags on, the more it invites questions about where Porter fits in the Steelers' future. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Secondary Faces A Different Kind Of Test This Week
A.J. Brown landing on injured reserve changes the shape of Pittsburghs Week 2 assignment, but it does not make the Patriots passing game any easier to sort out. Mike Vrabel said Brown worked from multiple receiver spots, and with him out, New England is expected to spread those looks around, using players such as Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Romeo Doubs in different ways.
For the Steelers secondary, the challenge becomes less about tracking one featured target and more about adjusting to a receiver rotation that can shift from snap to snap. Browns absence removes a familiar centerpiece, but it also leaves Pittsburgh preparing for a more varied New England attack, which can be its own kind of test for a defensive backfield. [Read more 🡒]