The offensive tackle competition hasn’t exactly played out the way many anticipated during training camp and the preseason. After selecting Troy Fautanu in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, many thought the Week 1 starters would be Fautanu and last year’s first-round tackle Broderick Jones. Fautanu suffered a minor knee injury in the first preseason game, but Gerry Dulac reported shortly after that he was already viewed as the Week 1 starter at right tackle.
The injury timetable should allow for him to be healthy by Sept. 8 when the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Atlanta Falcons to open the regular season, but how much practice does he need in order to be fully prepared to start?