The best ability in the NFL is availability—especially for teams clawing at the glass ceiling of a crowded playoff picture. The Pittsburgh Steelers know this better than most. In a season defined by gritty survival, painful learning curves, and flashes of potential, availability has been their lifeline. And now, that lifeline is stretched thin at the worst possible moment.
An aggressive offseason haul of All-Pros gave Steelers fans a sense of reassurance as the franchise quietly began laying the foundation of its rebuild. Aaron Rodgers’ arrival generated hope. Jalen Ramsey added swagger. Jonnu Smith offered reliability.
And Broderick Jones, the young left tackle protecting the quarterback’s blindside, provided the stability Rodgers absolutely needed at this stage of his career.
But on Tuesday afternoon, Mike Tomlin delivered news that sucked the energy out of the room: “Broderick Jones has a neck injury. He’ll be classified as out this week,” Tomlin told reporters.
The words were simple, but the weight behind them was unbearable. Losing your left tackle is unfortunate for any franchise. Losing him days before facing the Buffalo Bills—while protecting a 41-year-old quarterback with a fractured wrist—is a crisis.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be tested by the Buffalo Bills without Broderick Jones
Rodgers’ production has been the driving force behind Pittsburgh’s offensive growth, but even his experience, accuracy, and leadership have limits. He isn’t nimble the way he once was, and lingering injuries have only magnified that truth. The Steelers cannot afford for him to extend plays or absorb unnecessary hits.
Every second he stands in the pocket is precious, and without Jones anchoring his blindside, those seconds become much harder to secure.
The odds are undeniably stacked against Arthur Smith’s unit heading into Week 13. And yet, they have no choice but to succeed. The AFC playoff picture is shrinking by the week. Every mistake carries weight. Every injury tightens the margin. A single setback can send a team tumbling out of contention.
Pittsburgh must now approach Sunday with a simple priority: protect their quarterback at all costs.
Fortunately, not all the news is bleak. Buffalo’s defense is respectable but not overwhelming in its pass-rush output, ranking 15th in sacks per game (2.4). Joey Bosa leads the Bills with four sacks, though he hasn’t brought down a quarterback since facing Kansas City. That doesn’t mean he won’t be hungry. A weakened Steelers offensive line will only fuel his urgency.
The heartbreaking loss of Broderick Jones is a blow—no way around it. But it isn’t the end of the world. Injuries happen. Seasons shift. Teams adapt or fall apart. And the Steelers, for all their inconsistencies, have shown heart when it matters most. They’ve learned to survive storms. Week 13 will simply bring another.
The hope now is that Jones’s recovery is swift, because Pittsburgh will need him down the stretch if they expect to make noise in January. The path forward won’t be easy—but in this league, nothing meaningful ever is.