The Steelers not only used their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to select offensive tackle Broderick Jones, but also traded up a few picks to do so.
That has naturally raised high expectations for Jones, who is entering his second season, but he looked anything but good last Saturday night, as Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau bullied him for most of the evening.
After the game, some began to speculate whether Jones was completely healthy, as he was wearing a brace on his right elbow, but on Tuesday he refuted those assumptions.
“I’m as healthy as I can be next season,” Jones said. “Everyone plays week by week, with a little injury or something, but then they have to hang in there.”
If Jones only has a few minor bumps and bruises, his play is more concerning than previously thought, but he believes it was simply a bad day.
“I just feel like this was one of those days for me,” Jones added. “I’m just trying to get back on my feet, get out of this hole and just keep getting better.”
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith hopes that will be the case after Jones showed promise as a rookie.
“Any lineman, no matter what position, no matter what game plan, if he gets beat early, that’s a problem,” Smith said. “I have a lot of confidence in Broderick. He’s a young player.”
Jones didn’t make his first start last season until Week 5, playing on the right side, something he didn’t do often in Georgia.
The fact that the 23-year-old did not play in his usual position could be the reason why he did not make the leap that many had expected from him. But he also rejected this idea and said that he simply had to play better.
“I just have to get better,” Jones concluded. “I feel like I didn’t set the right tone from the beginning. I just have to get better every day and go from there.”
Jones will get another chance to do so on Saturday in Pittsburgh’s final preseason game against the Detroit Lions.
All quotes are first hand unless otherwise stated.
