The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive success will largely depend on how the offensive line performs in 2025. The O-line is one of the youngest in the league, with its projected starters consisting of a ten-year veteran, one in their third year, and three in their second year in the league. The two biggest question marks surrounding the unit are how Broderick Jones performs in his transition from right tackle to left tackle without a security blanket in Dan Moore Jr., and how their 2024 1st-round pick fares with a full season under his belt, after an injury-riddled rookie year.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ 1st-round pick had an injury-riddled rookie season
Troy Fautanu suffered an MCL sprain in his left knee in their preseason opener, resulting in him missing the final two weeks of training camp and Week 1. He returned in Week 2 and made his regular-season debut at right tackle, playing 55 offensive snaps. Unfortunately, that was the only game Fautanu saw playing time in after suffering a season-ending dislocated kneecap in his right knee during Friday’s practice in Week 3 that required surgery.
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The tackle participated in spring practice, inching closer to a full recovery.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ tackle back to full health
During Wednesday’s press conference, Troy Fautanu provided a positive injury update, via Matt Connolly of Penn Live.com. The second-year tackle confirmed that he is 100% after a long and grueling rehab. Fautanu is excited to return to full health and has gained a lot of confidence heading into his second season.
“I would say so, yea,” Fautanu said when asked if he is 100 percent, via Connolly. “I’m super confident in where I’m at right now. I’m full go.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for a really long time. I’m just super excited to be back out here and be able to play football again,” Fautanu said. “I would say Day 6, or whatever the last day of minicamp, compared to Day 1 of OTAs, I gained a lot of confidence – just in being able to know that I have the strength to play football on this knee again, because that’s probably the hardest part.
“Obviously you go through the physical stuff with rehab and stuff, but coming back to play and gaining that confidence is difficult. But I got through it… felt like I was moving around, felt like myself again.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers believe Troy Fautanu was the best offensive lineman before the injury
“But I wanna say probably from July 24th or 25th, I think until August 9th when that injury took place, they probably had 14 to 15 practices,” Ray Fittipaldo told The Fan’s Joe Starkey. “And they were convinced he was their best offensive lineman. Not their best tackle. They thought he was better than Isaac Seumalo.”
