Injury Updates: Steelers Starting Tackle Expected to Be Limited

PITTSBURGH — A starting Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman is dealing with a minor injury and could miss practice time this week, head coach Mike Tomlin announced on Tuesday. Left tackle Dan Moore Jr. is dealing with some ankle swelling after suffering an apparently minor injury in the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

Moore did not miss a snap against the Falcons, but Tomlin said that he experienced some swelling that could limit him in the early part of the week.

Moore has missed just two games since he first took over the team’s starting left tackle role as a rookie in 2021. It doesn’t seem likely that the injury will keep him out of this week’s trip to Denver, but his status throughout the week should be monitored.

Assuming Moore is OK, him missing a practice or two might be a blessing in disguise for the Steelers, who are trying to find a way to deal with the future of their tackle position. Rookie first-round pick Troy Fautanu missed the last three weeks of the preseason with a knee sprain and dressed but did not play in the opener after being limited in practice most of the week.

Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Troy Fautanu at training camp on Aug. 1, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Fautanu said on Monday that he’s now ready to practice without restriction this week, but Tomlin acknowledged that it’s going to be tough to get him a chance to earn a starting role at this point.

“It’s more difficult, but we have a commitment to continuing it because we liked what we saw from him during team development,” Tomlin said on Tuesday. “He’s deserving of that. His talents are deserving of that, and so, we’ll balance that the best we can.”

Another promising rookie that the Steelers have yet to see play is wide receiver Roman Wilson, who is still working his way back from an early-camp ankle injury. Wilson was ruled out against Atlanta, but Tomlin said to “expect an uptick in participation” for him in Week 2.

Finally, cornerback Darius Rush remains in the NFL concussion protocol after leaving the Atlanta game in the fourth quarter, but Tomlin expressed optimism about him being able to play this week.

“I don’t know what stage of the protocol he’s in, but there’s a level of anticipation in terms of him getting out of it,” he said. “We’ll take it day by day.”

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson during training camp on July 28, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY UPDATES