National Football League

Steelers OL Troy Fautanu is reportedly out for the season with knee injury

Updated Sep. 22, 2024 11:08 p.m. ET

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie right tackle Troy Fautanu will miss the rest of the regular season due to a knee injury that requires surgery. The news was first reported by NFL Media. However, Fautanu could return if the Steelers make the postseason.

The 20th overall pick in the draft practiced most of the week before injuring the knee on Friday. He was initially listed as questionable on the injury report before being downgraded to out on Saturday. Later in the day, he was placed on injured reserve.

Fautanu was scheduled to make his second career start when the Steelers hosted the Chargers. The 23-year-old Washington product had been slowed by a knee injury during training camp but impressed coach Mike Tomlin when he was cleared to return earlier this month.

The injury means Broderick Jones has moved back into a starting role. Jones, a first-round pick in 2023, was benched in favor of Fautanu last week against Denver. Jones struggled while getting a series of work early in the second quarter, being flagged for three penalties in just a handful of plays. He spent the rest of the game on the bench.

Earlier in the week, Tomlin said he had no plans to fully move on from Jones.

"I am sure (Jones) suffered some disappointment in terms of Troy starting," Tomlin said. "It's a natural thing. But he has to move past it and I have to give him an opportunity to move past it as a leader."

Jones played all game in the Steelers' 20-10 win over the Chargers on Sunday. Afterward, Tomlin said, "I expected [Jones] to respond positively and appropriately and he did." Quarterback Justin Fields also praised Jones' preparation and gave him a "big shout-out" for his performance.

Pittsburgh is now 3-0.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.