It’s only a matter of time before rookie Max Iheanachor becomes the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting right tackle, and honestly, after what we’ve seen through two games, that clock needs to speed up right now. The Steelers’ offensive line has been a straight-up mess, letting Aaron Rodgers get hammered with 29 pressures and six sacks already. This isn’t just bad, it’s a disaster for a team that’s 30th in total offense with just 278.5 yards a game.
Rodgers Sees Something Special in a Rough Situation
Even with the O-line struggling under Mike McCarthy and James Campen, Aaron Rodgers, the guy getting slammed, is already raving about Iheanachor. Rodgers told the media Wednesday, "I think he’s got a really bright future." That’s big praise from a future Hall of Famer, especially considering Rodgers’ career is winding down this season and Iheanachor’s is just kicking off. Rodgers pointed out the rookie is "raw because he hasn’t played football that long" but immediately followed up with "The other sense, he’s got a beautiful set." "Beautiful set!" You don’t hear that about just any tackle. Rodgers made it clear, "You don’t say that about every tackle. There’s nice sets, and then there’s beautiful sets." That kind of specific, technical praise means something. He even compared Iheanachor’s "set" to some of the best tackles he’s ever played with. When Rodgers is ready, Iheanachor is going to be a "staple" for that Steelers offensive line for a long, long time.
From Community College to "Beautiful Sets"
The story of Max Iheanachor is already wild. The Steelers snagged him with the 21st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft even though he’d only played football for five years. Five! He never even played high school ball, starting his journey in community college before making it to Arizona State in 2023. He was the sixth tackle taken, the last of a strong draft class before a pretty big drop-off in talent that the Steelers clearly didn’t want to miss. That’s a unique path to the pros, and it speaks to the natural talent Rodgers is seeing. For a guy who’s only been playing this long to already be getting "beautiful set" comparisons from one of the greatest QBs ever? That’s incredible.
The Stakes Are High for the Steelers’ O-Line
If the Steelers have any shot at making a run at the AFC North and getting back to the playoffs for a second straight year, they absolutely have to keep Rodgers upright. The dude is 42, his career is wrapping up, and he’s already taken multiple big hits this season that would leave anyone in pain. He only missed one game all of last season, so seeing him absorb these kinds of shots through just two games is a huge red flag. The potential for Iheanachor is clear, and the need for him to step up is immediate. The Steelers can’t afford to waste Rodgers’ final season, and getting their offensive line fixed, with or without Iheanachor, is the first step.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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