The Pittsburgh Steelers are likely going to have to wait a little longer before seeing first-round pick Max Iheanachor in game action.
Iheanachor has been sidelined since suffering a shoulder/neck area injury in training camp practice on August 6, and the team still hasn’t offered much clarity on the exact nature of the issue or how long it might keep him out. What is clear, though, is that Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy isn’t expecting the rookie tackle to suit up Friday against the New York Jets.
“He’s making progress. I don’t see him playing this week,” McCarthy said via Jacob Punturi.
That’s a shift from the early outlook, when McCarthy initially sounded like the injury might only cost Iheanachor a few days. Instead, the rookie has already missed enough time that his preseason debut will have to wait at least another week.
The Steelers also appear to be handling summer injuries with a lighter touch than in the past. DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman, and Eli Heidenreich have all missed meaningful camp time with injuries that seemed minor, and Pittsburgh has been willing to play it safe rather than rush anyone back.
That’s especially frustrating in Iheanachor’s case because he was turning heads before the injury. He looked strong and technically polished early in camp, which stood out for a player who came into the league with a reputation as more of a “raw” prospect. When he finally gets back on the field, the Steelers may have something much bigger than a preseason story - a potential long-term starter on the offensive line.
In Other News...
Najee Harris Next Stop Says Plenty About His NFL Value
Najee Harris has found another landing spot, and it says something about how the league still views the former Steelers running back as a useful piece. After moving on from Pittsburgh and spending time with the Chargers, Harris is now headed to New York, where the Giants have turned to him for added backfield help behind rookie Cam Skattebo.
For the Giants, the appeal is straightforward: Harris brings experience, size and a chance to steady a rushing group that can use more depth. The next step in his career comes with a health question attached, though, and his ability to work his way back into form will determine how much of a role he can carve out in New York's offense. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers May Have Dodged A Frustrating Draft Mistake With Makai Lemon
The Steelers had wide receiver Makai Lemon in play during the draft, only to watch Philadelphia take him earlier and remove him from the board. Since then, Lemons early pro start has been slowed by a hamstring injury that has kept him out of multiple practices and offseason activities, a reminder that draft-day disappointment does not always stay that way for long.
Pittsburgh moved on by taking offensive tackle Max Iheanachor instead, and the early return has at least given the Steelers a steadier spring story to follow. Iheanachor has been active in training camp despite a minor injury setback, while Lemon is still working through the kind of availability issues that can make a promising name feel a lot less painful to miss. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Future Just Took A Brutal Hit Despite Drew Allar Hope
The Steelers have at least one reason to feel better about the future in rookie quarterback Drew Allar, whose preseason showing turned heads after he directed three touchdown drives in a game. Head coach Mike McCarthy was upbeat about what he saw from Allar, and the early returns only added to the sense that Pittsburgh may have found a long-term answer at the most important position.
Even so, the bigger picture around the franchise remains bleak. ESPNs latest NFL future outlook slotted the Steelers near the bottom of the league at No. 30, a harsh verdict built on coaching, the roster outside quarterback, the quarterback spot itself, and the front office. For a team that has spent years trying to keep one eye on the present and one on what comes next, that kind of ranking is a blunt reminder that one promising rookie does not erase the work still ahead. [Read more 🡒]