The experiment the Pittsburgh Steelers deployed at right tackle in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos failed. While starting right tackle Troy Fautanu played well, Broderick Jones committed 3 penalties on just one drive.
The Steelers benched Jones before the end of his dismal series. The second-year right tackle took accountability for his benching while speaking to reporters after the game. But when asked specifically about the plan to rotate him and Fautanu at right tackle, Jones offered a puzzling answer.
“If I’m not starting, then I really don’t feel like I should be playing,” Jones told the media. “So, rotation is really not a big factor for me.
“At the end of the day, they called it, I hauled it. So, I just try to continue to go out there and do the best of my ability.”
Jones’ answer can seemingly be interpreted in two different ways. It’s possible the offensive tackle meant that he doesn’t feel like he deserves to play if he hasn’t earned a starting job.
But Jones’ response could also be seen as a message to the Steelers coaching staff — either start me or don’t play me at all.
Broderick Jones Has Awful Series Against Denver Broncos
Steelers fans can decide what Jones intended to say after the team’s 13-6 victory against the Broncos. But there’s no debate that Jones played poorly in Week 2.
After Fautanu started, Jones played right tackle on the third offensive possession for Pittsburgh. On the seventh play of the drive, Jones committed a false start that turned a third-and-6 into third-and-11. The Steelers still converted the third-down opportunity, but two snaps later, the officials called Jones for a holding penalty.
Jones committed another holding foul two plays later. The Steelers then removed Jones, and Fautanu played the rest of the game.
“You got it,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin when asked if Jones was benched because of his penalties.
Jones’ penalties bogged down the promising Steelers drive and forced a punt. Even though Jones didn’t play another snap, Pittsburgh never really found its offensive rhythm again in the game.
The Steelers had just 62 offensive yards in the second half. They held on to win thanks in large part to 2 interceptions after halftime.
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