PITTSBURGH — Steelers offensive tackle Chuks Okorafor suffered an injury late in the game against the 49ers and did not return. Following the injury, the Steelers moved Dan Moore Jr. to right tackle and the rookie Broderick Jones came into the game at left tackle.
He is the latest player in a long list of injuries. Diontae Johnson, Pat Freiermuth, DeMarvin Leal, and Cam Heyward all suffered injuries at various points throughout the afternoon. Pittsburgh’s offense looked lost throughout the day, while Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense diced up the Steelers’ defense easily.
With Okorafor out, Pittsburgh will give the young offensive tackle Jones those opportunities. If he misses any time, the rest of the depth chart will ring out with Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook as the depth offensive tackles.
Pittsburgh failed to get anything on either side of the ball, capping off a disastrous first game. Okorafor’s injury adds salt to the wound of the loss. Pittsburgh now has to regroup and get all the injuries evaluated before their Monday Night clash with the Cleveland Browns. The offensive line struggled up front with Okorafor and without him, as Pickett was sacked five times on the afternoon. Pickett created some of that pressure, but the offensive line never seemed to figure it out.