Steelers' usually reliable trenches have turned into an infirmary in 2024

Gerry Dulac / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The wave of good fortune that allowed the Steelers to stay away from injuries on their offensive line for two years has caught with them in a big way.

After two years of their starting offensive linemen rarely missing a snap, let alone a game, the Steelers are losing them for the season at an alarming pace.

Maybe they need a rabbit’s foot or four-leaf clover to help change their luck.

The latest to go out for the season is guard James Daniels, who has played every snap of every game he has started since joining the Steelers before the 2022 season. He tore his Achilles tendon in Sunday’s 27-24 loss in Indianapolis and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.

He joins No. 1 pick Troy Fautanu (knee), who was injured in Week 2 in Denver, and center/guard Nate Herbig (shoulder), who was injured in the preseason. All three were starters at the time of their season-ending injuries.

It has forced the Steelers to juggle their offensive line for the first time since 2021 and inject all three rookie draft picks into the starting lineup at one time or another.

“You handle that with quality depth and, thankfully, that’s something we have,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We’ve invested a lot the last several offseasons in terms of acquiring young, talented people. They’re capable and they’re going to get an opportunity to show that.”

There is some good news for the offensive line.

Tomlin said he is “excited” about the possibility of getting guard Isaac Seumalo (pectoral muscle), who has missed the first four games, back for Sunday’s 8:20 p.m. game against the Dallas Cowboys. If he returns, that means rookie Mason McCormick and Spencer Anderson could rotate at right guard, which was the plan at left guard in Indianapolis until Daniels was injured six plays into the game.

Tomlin said he is “open“ to the idea of a rotation, but, “I’m also open to playing one guy exclusively if they distinguish themselves.”

McCormick started and played every snap (70) at left guard against the Colts. Anderson played all 64 snaps once he replaced Daniels at right guard.

Tomlin said he gave a “double thumbs up” to both players for their performance in Indianapolis.

“Guys like Spencer Anderson and Mason McCormick have done a real nice job, and we expect that to continue,” Tomlin said. “But, again, I’m not surprised by it. Both guys have shown maturity beyond their years in this developmental process and play to boot.”

The Steelers are not accustomed to juggling their offensive line because of injuries.

Two years ago, three offensive lineman — Daniels, tackle Dan Moore and guard Kevin Dotson — played every one of the 1,160 offensive snaps. Tackle Chuks Okorafor missed one snap and center Mason Cole missed 46 snaps. Out of a possible 5,800 snaps, the starting offensive line played 5,753, or 99.1%.

Last year, Cole played every snap (1.071), as did Broderick Jones (655) once he replaced Okorafor as the starter for the final 10 games. Before he was benched. Okorafor missed only two snaps in the seven games he started. Seumalo missed only 41 snaps while Moore, who started 16 of 17 games, missed 118.

Out of a possible 5,355 snaps, the starting offensive line played 5,078, or 94.8%.

The Steelers have not been so fortunate this year. Maybe that’s one of the reasons, despite the presence of Justin Fields, they are averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, which ranks 25th in the league.

Tomlin even acknowledged having new players at guard could be a reason for the botched center snap between Fields and center Zach Frazier. When the Steelers use a silent count on the road, the guard is responsible for tapping the center before the ball is snapped.

“Some of those guards have been different people, to be quote honest with you,” Tomlin said. “It’s reasonable to expect those issues to subside.”

And, hopefully, the injuries.