Spencer Anderson’s rough day against the New England Patriots may have come with an explanation that changes how the Pittsburgh Steelers handle right guard this week.
Steelers beat reporter Mark Kaboly reported in an article on X that Anderson broke a bone in his foot just 11 plays into Week 2. Kaboly described it as a “bone chip,” noting that it can bring severe pain, can be eased with rest, and is usually only fixed through surgery.
That helps explain why Anderson looked so out of sorts against New England. He allowed four pressures and was on the wrong end of a game-changing strip-sack that turned into a defensive touchdown for the Patriots. The injury doesn’t wipe away that performance, but it does give the Steelers a reason to show some patience.
Kaboly also wrote, “Basically, it’s a pain-tolerance injury at this point, and Anderson powered through it on Sunday, albeit it had some sort of negative effect on his performance,” which leaves open the possibility that Anderson could try to play through it again.
The bigger question is whether Pittsburgh should even ask him to.
The Steelers are already staring down a tough matchup, and there’s a strong case for going in a different direction. Brock Hoffman is one possibility.
Mike McCarthy knows him well from their time together in Dallas, and while Hoffman is not a huge guard, he has been better at center in a pinch than at guard. He also has a track record against Dexter Lawrence, having seen plenty of the standout defensive tackle when the Cowboys and Giants met twice a season as NFC East rivals.
Then there’s rookie Gennings Dunker, the third-round pick who hasn’t even dressed in the first two weeks of the season. If the Steelers wanted a reason to get him on the field, they have one now. Dunker brings the kind of strength fans want at the position, but it’s hard to picture him making his first NFL start against arguably the best defensive tackle in the league.
That leaves Hoffman as the most logical middle ground: healthy, experienced, and familiar with the challenge ahead. With Anderson dealing with a broken bone in his foot, the Steelers have plenty of reason to make the switch.
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