Steelers Rookie OT Troy Fautanu Expects to Play in Week 1
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers rookie offensive tackle Troy Fautanu expects to be back for the team’s season opener on Sept. 8 against the Atlanta Falcons. In the meantime, he said he’s just following the advice of the trainers and attacking his rehab. Fautanu sustained a MCL sprain in the first preseason game against the Houston Texans on Aug. 9.
“I think I will be,” Fautnau said when asked if he’ll be ready for Week 1. “Whatever role they have me playing, regardless if I’m playing or not. Just making sure I’m ready to go.”
Fautanu revealed that he wanted to keep on playing against the Texans despite the knee injury, which was suffered in late in the first quarter. Fautanu struggled in his NFL debut, allowing two sacks.
“It felt off, but I was not going to stop playing,” Fautanu said. “I was like, I barely got my feet wet, so I decided to keep playing in the second quarter. I told them to throw some tiger balm on it and I just kept going.
“Come halftime when we were walking down the stairs to get in the locker room, my leg felt like something was off. I went in there and asked for a knee brace and this and that because I wanted to keep playing. I wanted to make up for what didn’t happen in those first couple drives.”
Fautanu felt like the mental part of the game held him back against Houston.
“I think my biggest enemy, personally speaking, is this thing right here (points to head). Just overthinking too much sometimes,” Fautanu said. “Not going out there and letting my ability take over. For me right now, just making sure I’m locked in in terms of the playbook, so come game time, I’m not thinking about anything. Just making sure I do my job to the best of my ability. Just play faster, stop thinking so much. I tend to do that a lot. Hopefully going into game one I prepare myself better.”
Even though he’ll be out, Fautanu is preparing like he’s playing on Saturday against the Detroit Lions in the final preseason game.
“For me, I’m preparing like I’m playing this week,” Fautanu said. “I’m writing down who I’m going against, what their moves are, the defenses, the keys the coaches are telling me. I’m writing every single thing down. I’m making sure I prepare like I’m playing this week. For me, it’s just making sure I have enough practice going into week 1.”
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.
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