Troy Fautanu Gets Back to Work, Week 1 Status Still Uncertain

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Troy Fautanu was limited in practice on Wednesday, but said he felt good in the teams reps that he was able to do, and that he got his most extensive work in yet since his MCL sprain that sidelined hime early in the preseason.

Fautanu’s status for Week 1 remains up in the air, as he was still limited in reps, working at right tackle behind starter Broderick Jones. The Steelers have only three tackles on their 53-man roster, so the club appears to be counting on Fautanu being cleared to at least suit up on Sunday.

“I haven’t really talked to the trainers too much about that,” Fautanu said. “Just taking it day by day. Today I went in, I was limited in reps, but I took a lot today and felt good. Just kind of trusting whatever they say. Ultimately, I’ve got to gain confidence in being out there again.”

Fautanu said part of the rehab is being physically cleared to perform the moments and absorb the contact required of his position, but an important second part of it is him having the confidence in his injured leg to not let it impact his play. That just takes reps.

“You don’t think about some of the things,” he said. “When you’re coming off an injury, sometimes you play a little bit timid. I’m just trying to get that confidence back. Today I felt really good, getting that confidence back and playing really fast.”

Fautanu said before training camp that the plan was eventually for him to get some work at both left tackle, where he played in college, and right tackle, where he spent most of his spring with the Steelers.

Because of the injury, that never materialized. Fautanu said right now, he feels more comfortable at right tackle than left tackle.

“I played both in college,” Fautanu said. “Mostly left, but I don’t know, I actually like right tackle better than left. It’s weird. I’m right-hand dominant. … And I get to play next to James Daniels.”

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