PITTSBURGH — In an alarming turn of events for the Pittsburgh Steelers, starting right tackle Troy Fautanu has sustained a knee injury during Friday's practice and will be sidelined indefinitely, according to sources close to the situation.

The 2024 first-round draft pick was gearing up to make his second career start against the Los Angeles Chargers this Sunday. However, his teammate, fellow tackle Broderick Jones, revealed that Fautanu experienced “a little tweak” during practice and will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury. “We really don’t know what his status is going to be,” said Jones. “I filled in for him, and we’ll just figure things out after he gets his MRI.”

On Saturday, the Steelers confirmed Fautanu's absence from the upcoming game through an official downgrade.

With Fautanu out, Broderick Jones, drafted No. 14 overall in 2023, will step up to start. Jones is hoping to bounce back from a lackluster performance he delivered while coming off the bench against the Denver Broncos. “It’s nothing new,” Jones commented about his new responsibilities. “I just have to go out there and perform when my name is called.”

Fautanu’s promotion as the starter came after he outperformed Jones, yet Coach Mike Tomlin had originally intended to rotate the two tackles based on performance.

During the game against Denver, Jones faced several penalties that resulted in him being benched, leading Tomlin to stick with Fautanu for the remainder of the match. “I had intentions of utilizing both guys,” Tomlin stated, emphasizing his initial trust in both players.

This injury comes as a troubling blow to the offensive line, marking the third significant injury within that unit.

Center Nate Herbig has been ruled out for the entire season due to a rotator cuff tear, while veteran guard Isaac Seumalo is also unavailable for the Chargers matchup after suffering a pectoral injury earlier in the season.

Fautanu’s knee issue follows a previous MCL sprain suffered during the Steelers’ opening preseason game in August, which had already sidelined him for the remainder of that preseason.

Tomlin had recently praised Fautanu’s progress and readiness for the starting role, reinforcing the potential he displayed prior to this unfortunate setback. “Troy had been lighting it up,” he remarked. “Based on my actions in terms of putting him in the lineup, it’s clear I saw the promise in his developmental path.”

As the Steelers prepare for their game against the Chargers without Fautanu, the focus will now turn to how the offensive line can adjust and perform under pressure, especially with the playoff race heating up.

Will Broderick Jones rise to the occasion, or will the Steelers face more challenges as they move forward? The football world will be anxiously watching!