The Pittsburgh Steelers are finally getting their first-round pick, Max Iheanachor, onto the field for some real game action. He told the media Monday that the plan is for him to play against the Buffalo Bills this Thursday. This is big, because the dude, drafted 21st overall out of Arizona State, hasn’t even sniffed game time in the first two preseason contests. We’ve been waiting for this.
Iheanachor’s Long Road Back To The Line
It hasn’t been an easy ride for Iheanachor since he joined the Steelers, just feet away from Acrisure Stadium on draft night. He’s been sidelined since August 6 with an upper body injury he picked up in training camp, and Monday was literally his first day back practicing with the team since getting hurt. You gotta feel for the guy, missing out on crucial reps and a chance to show what he can do, especially after all the hype around being a top pick. He even said he wanted to be out there way earlier, telling ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor, “I wanted to play since the first preseason [game], but obviously missing practices and stuff. Couldn’t get out there with the guys. So I mean, that’s the plan to play this last one.” That’s the mindset you want from a rookie, hungry to get in there and prove it before the exhibitions wrap up. It’s a relief to see him, and fellow rookie offensive lineman Gennings Dunker, back out there.
Can A Rookie Boost This Struggling O-Line?
So why is this a massive deal for Pittsburgh? Because the Steelers’ offensive line has been straight-up struggling to find any kind of cohesiveness throughout the preseason. That’s a huge problem, and it’s exactly why they drafted Iheanachor to bolster the unit in the first place. Right tackle has been a bit of a carousel, with Dylan Cook and Broderick Jones splitting time, and Cook primarily playing with the first-team. Iheanachor is currently listed as the backup right tackle behind Cook, and the team is only planning to develop him on the right side after flipping Troy Fautanu to the left. The hope is that Iheanachor, even with limited practice, can bring some much-needed stability and talent to that right side.
This Thursday’s game against the Bills in the new Highmark Stadium isn’t just the final preseason tilt, it’s Iheanachor’s only shot to suit up before the exhibitions end on August 27. What will his presence mean for an O-line that desperately needs some cohesion heading into the regular season? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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