Broderick Jones says the Steelers haven’t given him a timeline after spinal fusion surgery, and he’s monitoring his neck day by day. With Max Ihenachor drafted last month and Jones’ fifth-year option declined, his next steps—and his role if he’s cleared—remain
Broderick Jones walked into the offseason with a clear priority: getting his neck right. After spinal fusion surgery this offseason, the Pittsburgh offensive tackle is still waiting for the moment he can move from individual work at Steelers OTAs to full team drills.
This week, Jones made it plain that his return doesn’t come with a date you can circle. “I don’t really have a timeline,” Jones said, via Chris Harlan of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Reivew. “They didn’t really give me a timeline,” he added. “They’re just monitoring it day by day, and we go from there.”
For now, he can handle individual work, but he has not been cleared for team drills. More importantly, he said no one has set a point when the neck will be ready for the next stage of his rehabilitation.
Even if he gets the clearance he’s working toward. the second question is whether the job still looks the same. Jones previously played left tackle in Pittsburgh, but the team drafted Max Ihenachor in the first round last month. The Steelers also declined Jones’ fifth-year option. a sequence that suggests how quickly priorities can shift when recovery and roster planning run on different clocks.
Jones acknowledged the reality of it without bitterness. “It’s all a business at the end of the day,” he said. “I’m coming off a neck injury. Nobody knows what the future holds for me. Of course, they have to do what they do to protect themselves at the end of the day. I don’t have ill will or anything toward them.”.
He said he’s ready to help the rookie when he’s able to return to the facility in a more integrated way. “I’m down to help Max wherever he needs me,” Jones said. “Because at the end of the day, all of us got to be ready.”
Jones’ own NFL experience has been substantial in Pittsburgh—he appeared in 45 games and made 38 starts over his first three seasons with the franchise. But the uncertainty around his neck. and the way the Steelers have already moved at the position. has put both his timeline and his role into the same. uneasy limbo.
Broderick Jones Steelers spinal fusion surgery neck injury Max Ihenachor offensive tackle OTAs fifth-year option
No timeline is crazy, dude might be out all year.
So they declined his fifth-year option AND he’s still hurt? That’s cold. Steelers always doing something weird with OTs.
I don’t get it, if he’s monitoring his neck day by day that means he’s basically fine right? Like if it’s that close they should just let him practice. Unless fusion just means they picked a new tackle for left and forgot about him.
Fusion surgery sounds like he’s basically done for a while but the article makes it sound like it could be soon? Also Max Ihenachor already took the job so why would they even rush him back. Steelers always think they can replace anybody lol.