Participant: OT Broderick Jones
Inventory Worth: Up
Reasoning: After a gradual begin to camp and a groin damage, Broderick Jones has begun stacking higher days getting into a pivotal season. Each for himself and the Steelers, Jones must have a robust 12 months, a prelude to an ideal profession. Though he isn’t taking each potential rep, he says it’s the coaches pulling him out. He additionally believes he’ll play on Saturday, the Steelers’ first preseason recreation.
Broderick Jones is aware of higher than anyone what an necessary 12 months that is, however he’s taking issues daily. Shifting from proper deal with to left deal with, he’s additionally present process a transition. Whereas he performed left deal with in faculty, any adjustment takes some getting used to.
To high off the transfer to left deal with, Jones can be apparently coping with what seems to be a minor groin damage. Talking as somebody with a present groin damage, this stuff could be difficult. I can affirm—hypothetically—that my move units aren’t the place they’d have to be proper now. Thankfully, I don’t have to guard Aaron Rodgers, although. I simply sit right here and write about him with an ice pack on my lap. However I digress.
The excellent news is Broderick Jones seems to be adapting effectively each to left deal with and to his aggravated groin. Primarily based on Alex Kozora’s reporting from coaching camp, he appears to be making progress. From yesterday’s follow, he famous one rep of sealing T.J. Watt.
Early on in camp, Jones appeared to be a turnstile for Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith. Then once more, maybe it’s price noting Watt was enjoying on the defensive proper aspect, which he normally doesn’t. However Kozora famous a superb general follow, not only one rep.
Nonetheless, the primary actual take a look at can be how he seems to be in-game—even within the preseason. Broderick Jones advised reporters yesterday that he believes the plan is to play him on Saturday. How a lot stays to be seen, however will probably be us plebians’ first have a look at him since final season.
With coaching camp underway and the Steelers exploring their new roster, it’s as soon as once more time to “take inventory”. It took some time, however we lastly noticed a few of that change the crew talked about after the season ended. Definitely, the transfer to commerce for WR DK Metcalf qualifies as a change, to not point out the accompanying contract. Oh, they usually additionally traded some man named George Pickens, which individuals discovered important.
As we communicate, we’re within the means of studying what this Steelers crew goes to appear to be. The mud is settled on each free company and the 2025 NFL Draft, and now we’re in camp. What different strikes would possibly the crew make, maybe sudden acquisitions or departures? They’ve definitely made a flurry of strikes, although some query whether or not they make a lot distinction. It is a Steelers crew ravenous for postseason success, however how determined are they for a playoff win in 2025?