It was roughly one year ago that Pittsburgh Steelers fourth-year offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins tore his left quadriceps tendon during OTAs. In 2018, following the free agency departure of Chris Hubbard, he was expected to assume the swing tackle job, which would have been critical. Starter Marcus Gilbert ended up missing 11 games. 11 games Hawkins could have started.
Now he is competing for that vacated starting right tackle job this offseason after Gilbert was traded, but he is also competing for a roster spot, because if he fails to secure that job between himself, Matt Feiler (10 starts in 2018), and second-year Chukwuma Okorafor (1 start), it’s possible that he may not make the roster at all.