Ola Adeniyi won’t be playing in the Steelers second preseason game against the Chiefs. Tuzar Skipper will have a chance to make a name for himself.
Ola Adeniyi has missed practice all week, and it has come to light that he recently underwent surgery. Though we don’t have a timetable for his return, we do know one thing: Steelers undrafted outside linebacker, Tuzar Skipper, will have an opportunity to showcase his ability against the Chiefs.
The Steelers host the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night. Adeniyi saw a lot of action in week one of the preseason, but won’t be seeing the field this week. Tuzar Skipper will have a chance to show the team why he should stick around in Pittsburgh.
Skipper and Adeniyi share a lot of similarities. They played on the same team at Toledo, and they both impressed at times during their rookie training camps. They share similar body types, and win with power and hand usage off the edge.
One thing they don’t have in common, however, is their age. Despite coming into the NFL a year earlier, Ola Adeniyi (21 years old) is significantly younger than Skipper. Tuzar Skipper is a 24-year old rookie, and he needs to play like a grown man right away.
Before Adeniyi’s most recent injury (which is still not entirely known at this time), Skipper stood no chance of cracking the Steelers roster in 2019. Pittsburgh ran with three outside linebackers last season, and Ola Adeniyi was going to be the fourth.
If Ola’s injury proves to be significant, there is a chance that Skipper could stick around for a while. Skipper still has a lot to prove, and it will take a dominant performance against the Chiefs for the Steelers to consider using a roster spot on him.
We all hope for a speedy recovery for whatever it is Ola Adeniyi is dealing with. In the mean time, Tuzar Skipper stands to be the beneficiary of Ola’s absence. Let’s hope he makes the most of his opportunity.