The Steelers may be headed toward a reshuffle up front after right guard Spencer Anderson was said to have suffered a bone break in his leg that could require surgery.
Pat McAfee Show correspondent Mark Kaboly reported that Anderson’s injury could be classified as a bone chip. “It can be classified as a bone chip, according to a source, which brings severe pain that can be eased somewhat by rest, but it’s usually only fully fixed through surgery,” Kaboly wrote in a story on X.
Anderson still finished the game against the New England Patriots, though he did not play well. Even with the injury, he has not yet been ruled out of anything by the team. He was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, and Pittsburgh has not said he will miss time because of the chipped bone.
What did stand out on Wednesday was how the line was being arranged during the viewing portion of practice. Anderson worked with backup center Ryan McCollum and starting right tackle Dylan Cook, while Brock Hoffman handled right guard snaps during individual drills next to starting center Zach Frazier.
Hoffman was asked whether he would start in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals, but said he did not know that yet.
"Obviously, we’ve all worked in different spots throughout training camp, so I treat it the same every week. I just prepare to play, and we’ll see what happens toward the end of the week," Hoffman said.
The timing is rough for Anderson, who has done everything the Steelers have asked of him. But with the offensive line struggling through the first two weeks, a change may be coming anyway. Right guard and right tackle look like the simplest places for Pittsburgh to adjust.
That could mean Hoffman at guard and first-round rookie Max Iheanachor at right tackle when the Steelers face the Bengals. Anderson and Cook have both played as swing guards and tackles in the NFL, and both have filled that role reliably for Pittsburgh. That setup might make more sense, especially for Anderson while he works back from the injury.
The Steelers have three more practices before Week 3, and Anderson does not sound like a player about to suddenly stop practicing. Still, the line appears to be trending toward a change.
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Steelers Backfield Decision Just Got A Lot More Serious Before Bengals
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Pittsburgh has other players showing up as limited or absent, but the running back situation is the one demanding the most attention heading into the Bengals game. Depending on Dowdles availability, the Steelers may need to turn to the practice squad to add depth at the position, which would make Fridays final injury updates especially important. [Read more 🡒]