Steelers' Broderick Jones injury questions loom over Max Iheanachor draft pick

Steelers' Broderick Jones injury questions loom over Max Iheanachor draft pick originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted a talented offensive tackle, Max Iheanachor, in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

It was fair to wonder what that might mean for Broderick Jones after some serious injury issues.

Jones has been a stable tackle for Pittsburgh when healthy.

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Lately, he hasn't been healthy a lot.

"The Steelers' 2023 first-round pick sustained a season-ending neck injury and had surgery soon after, and his timeline to return is still murky," ESPN's Brooke Pryor wrote on Thursday night after the Steelers had drafted Iheanachor. "Though the Steelers maintain he is on an expected timeline to return following the surgery, it remains unclear if he'll be able to play by training camp or the start of the season as he works to regain his strength."

Iheanachor wasn't taken exclusively because of Jones, but the overlap doesn't hurt, either.

"(GM Omar) Khan on Thursday night acknowledged there was some concern with Jones, but Iheanachor's position flexibility made him the right pick regardless of Jones' health," Pryor wrote.