A lot was riding on third-year tackle Broderick Jones this year. His first two seasons had been a mixed bag filled with some really good reps coupled with just as many horrible ones. The Pittsburgh Steelers need him to show the talent that made him a first-round pick.
Through three game in 2025, those issues haven’t been resolved.
While Jones hasn’t been a turnstile as many fans seem to claim that he is, he isn’t playing an elite brand of football either. Altogether, his play has been below-average, and his disaster plays (when he gets smoked off the line) have proven costly.
He faces another stiff task this week against a stout and creative Vikings front. That can’t be his excuse, though, for another bad game. If he can’t string together at least an average 60 minutes in Dublin, the Steelers may be forced to bench him.
Week 4 could force the Pittsburgh Steelers to bench Broderick Jones
While easier said than done, you can’t keep letting Jones kill offensive drives. While benching him creates a litany of other problems, you have to consider it.
Right now, Calvin Anderson is the de facto replacement. Considering his talent level, that may not be an actual improvement. That’s the penalty the Steelers have to pay for not adequately addressing the position in the offseason.
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Alternatively, you could look for an outside name to address the room, but options are thin. The free agent pool is extremely shallow. Maybe you take a swing at Evan Neal from the Giants if the price is right? Even then, he has his own issues you have to contend with.
What you can’t do is look at the available options and just resign yourself to Jones remaining as the starter. He’s hurting this offense right now, so something needs to give.
If Jones can hold his own this week and even just play at an average level, I certainly wouldn’t pull the plug. I want Jones to grow and improve, but we can’t keep waiting for him to make this jump.
With the bye week coming up after this game in Dublin, it would be the best time to try and find a replacement for Jones if needed. This game against the Vikings should be make-or-break for Jones as a starter this season.