Behind the Steel Curtain
In the Steelers’ 31-28 loss to the Chicago Bears last Sunday, the team knew they had suffered a potentially major loss after left tackle Broderick Jones left the game in the second half with a neck injury. On Saturday, it was announced that, along with Jones missing this weekend’s contest against the Buffalo Bills and will be placed on injured reserve.
The move knocks Jones out for the next four games, and there is a real chance he could be out longer, given the limited information available about the injury.
Jones was declared out for this weekends contest by head coach Mike Tomlin on Friday, who also mentioned that Andrus Peat will be starting in Jones’ place.
Peat has played only eight snaps this season for Pittsburgh, according to Pro Football Focus. The 32-year-old will presumably be the starting left tackle for as long as Jones is unavailable. The earliest possible return the young offensive lineman could make would be for week 17 against the Cleveland Browns.
The injury to Jones is a brutal blow to the Steelers’ offensive line that is very much still a work in progress, especially since Jones was taking strides and showing more consistency as the season went on. Peat will have the tall task of protecting an already injured Aaron Rodgers, who is set to start for the Steelers after missing last week’s contest with a fractured left wrist.
