Max Iheanachor’s Early Practice Exit Had Everyone Holding Their Breath: The Steelers’ Relief Has Landed

The Steelers rookie offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, their 2026 first-round pick, had everyone on edge this week after an early exit from practice. But listen up: the great news dropped, and he is officially OK.

The Scare on the Field

Yeah, this one definitely caused a collective gasp. Iheanachor, a first-round talent, had to leave practice early this week. We do not know the exact injury, as coach Mike McCarthy kept the specifics under wraps, but any time a top rookie goes down in preseason, it gets your heart racing, right? He walked off with an undisclosed injury, leaving us all wondering what the heck was going on with our guy.

Coach McCarthy’s Reassurance

Thankfully, Head Coach Mike McCarthy swooped in on Friday with the update we were all desperate for. He told reporters that Iheanachor is going to be out of practice for the next few days, which is not ideal, sure, but the HUGE takeaway is that he is set to return early next week! We are talking potentially as early as Monday. McCarthy kept it straight, saying, “He won’t go today. I think we might not see him until Monday, but he’s OK.” That “he’s OK” part? That’s the money quote right there. It means this is not some season-ender, not some major setback for our first-rounder. Phew.

What This Means for Preseason Kickoff

So, Iheanachor gets a few days to heal up, and if he is back by Monday, that’s pretty good timing. The Steelers’ first preseason game is set for next Thursday night, and it is against the Packers. Having our 2026 first-round pick, a key part of the offensive line’s future, back on the field, even with limited practice leading up to it, is super important. We need him to get those reps, to build that chemistry before the real action starts. Missing a full week of practice is tough, but knowing he will be back before kickoff next week? That’s exactly what we want to hear.

So yeah, a minor scare, but the big picture is bright. Keep an eye out for Max to be back on the field early next week. Then get ready, because the Steelers kick off preseason action next Thursday night against the Packers. Let’s get this thing started!

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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.