The Pittsburgh Steelers got Troy Fautanu back for full practice on Friday after limited work Thursday, putting to bed any concerns surrounding the ankle injury that kept him out of Wednesday's practice. The brief scare exposed the price of trading Broderick Jones. While his return brought relief, it didn't restore the proven tackle depth Pittsburgh shipped away.
Pittsburgh hosted Charlie Heck and Austin Deculus on Tuesday, then Fautanu sat Wednesday. Heck owns 29 NFL starts and Deculus six, but neither signed. The Steelers haven't linked those visits to Fautanu, and clubs routinely update emergency lists, so the timing alone isn't enough to connect them. The sequence still highlighted how little margin Pittsburgh left at tackle.
On Aug. 30, Jones and a 2027 fourth-rounder went to Dallas for 2027 third- and sixth-round picks. Pittsburgh had declined his fifth-year option, and he'd lost his job. Turning that situation into a move from Round 4 to Round 3 plus a sixth was strong asset management. It also removed a 38-game starter who could play either side.
Pittsburgh Steelers' Broderick Jones trade left Troy Fautanu's backup plan exposed
Pittsburgh's initial 53-man roster carried only three listed tackles after Jack Driscoll went to injured reserve: Fautanu, Dylan Cook, and first-round rookie Max Iheanachor. The other emergency options are practice-squad linemen Doug Nester and Steven Jones, neither of whom has played an NFL regular-season snap.
When Fautanu left for one play against Atlanta, Cook moved from right tackle to left, and Iheanachor entered on the right. One injury changed two jobs at once.
The right-tackle battle now carries consequences on the left side, too. The rookie was supposed to develop after missing padded camp work with an injury. Instead, he may be one ankle away from playing beside Cook, not replacing him.
Fautanu's limited return lowered the immediate concern, and there's no evidence his current ankle issue is serious. His rookie season did end after a dislocated kneecap, though. An offense built around a quarterback who turns 43 in December needs its left tackle available. Rodgers showed he can still escape pressure against Atlanta, but asking him to serve as his own protection plan as the season wears on would be reckless.
The Jones trade can still age well. Pittsburgh gained valuable 2027 draft capital by accepting more risk at tackle. Fautanu, Cook, and Iheanachor have to stay upright. One Wednesday practice report showed how little room the Steelers left themselves.
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