The Steelers’ offensive line battle is already heating up in camp, and rookie Max Iheanachor is forcing his way into the conversation fast.
Through the first week of practices in Pittsburgh, head coach Mike McCarthy has been rotating his linemen constantly, mixing and matching the group like a deck of cards. But while the competition has been all over the place, Iheanachor has been one of the few steady presences. The first-round pick arrived with a reputation as a long-term project, yet after just one week, he looks like a legitimate contender to open the season as a starter.
What jumps out first is size. Iheanachor is described as athletic and explosive, but he’s also a burly presence, and that shows when he lines up with the first-team group. He looks like he belongs.
That hasn’t gone unnoticed in drills. Each day of the first week, Iheanachor held up well against T.J.
Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. Of course, with no pads and no live tackling, there’s only so much that can be taken from it.
Still, camp is giving a clear picture of how quickly the rookie is adapting.
McCarthy has responded by pushing him. On day three, the Steelers held an elevated walk-through and split the roster into first and second groups on different fields. Iheanachor worked on both sides, but he spent most of that session with the first-team unit.
That still doesn’t mean the right tackle job is his right now. But the opening is there.
For a young player with little experience, the next step is all about stacking good days together. McCarthy is giving him the reps to do exactly that, and Iheanachor is entering week two with real momentum.
He and Dylan Cook are still going head-to-head. Cook has been the first right tackle out in team periods, but Iheanachor is closing the gap and trending toward passing him. It’s earlier than many expected, but the rookie is moving quickly toward a starting role in Pittsburgh.
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