In his recent installment of his "chats" with fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Ray Fittipaldo had some bold predictions regarding Broderick Jones. The insider for the team didn't hesitate to mention the concerns surrounding the Steelers' former first-round selection. His Week 1 debacle as the starting left tackle has many worried about his future.
Jones is now in his first season as the team's unquestioned left tackle. The Steelers believe the group will gel as experience and cohesion develop across the trenches. If last week's performance was a precursor of what's to come, this unit is in trouble. Jones was abysmal in New York, and he must turn things around in a hurry, or he could get shoved down the roster.
"If he continues to play like that, it won't be long," Fittipaldo said regarding Jones potentially being benched.
There are many reasons why Jones may be struggling to make the transition to the left side, but it's worth noting that he didn't perform well in the opposite position either. He has not shown much promise since his rookie campaign in 2023, which is a red flag. He must turn things around before Pittsburgh has no other choice but to find someone who can provide some stability.
Pittsburgh Steelers could bench Broderick Jones next month according to Ray Fittipaldo
Despite a "long leash" for Jones to try to fix his woes, there is a timeline for the Steelers to possibly bench the tackle if he fails to improve. With an old quarterback like Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh cannot afford to allow a type of performance that Jones had last week. They cannot let that happen each week, or Rodgers will eventually get injured, derailing the season.
"Not feeling confident about your October question," was Fittipaldo's response to a fan asking about Jones's possibility of making it through October as the starter.
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Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan have no other choice but to let Jones attempt to play his way out after a poor outing. They failed to add possible competition for the starting left tackle job, which forces Jones into a starting role. Their only potential stopgap is Calvin Anderson, a journeyman they claimed off waivers last season. Unfortunately, there aren't many other options available.
You have to wonder how long Jones would remain the starter before being pulled, perhaps as early as October.
If the young tackle does continue on his current path, Pittsburgh might have no other choice but to change its starting left tackle during the bye week or sooner. Fittipaldo is right. They cannot afford to wait. While demoting Jones would be a difficult decision, it may be their only viable option.
The offensive line is a young group, and they will have growing pains along the way. The hope is that they will show steady progress each week and emerge as a top group by the end of the regular season or sooner. They put a lot of draft capital into the players up front. Sometimes, those are a swing and a miss, and Jones is rushing into "draft bust" territory with his recent outing.