Broderick Jones' Neck Injury Has Pittsburgh Fans on Edge and Nobody Knows What's Next

Alright, Seattle, listen up! While we're all fired up for our Mariners to tear it up at T-Mobile and the Seahawks to dominate Lumen Field, there's some serious drama unfolding around the league that you gotta hear about. And honestly, it makes you appreciate our guys even more. We're talking major question marks, a brutal comeback story, and some big-time rookie shine.

The Steelers' Offensive Line Has a Huge Headache

Can you believe the mess down in Pittsburgh? Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones, who they picked up in the first round just a couple of drafts ago, is apparently battling a neck injury that left him sidelined for their final seven games last season, including the playoffs. Seven games, fam! That's brutal, especially for a guy you're banking on.

Now, the word from Adam Schefter at ESPN is that it's still totally unclear if Jones will even be ready for training camp, let alone Week 1. Think about that, a potential starter, completely up in the air. Plus, Pittsburgh has been drafting offensive tackles like crazy, picking up Troy Fautanu in 2024 and Max Iheanachor in 2026. Brendan Howe from SteelersNow is reporting that Jones is even open to working on both sides of the line once he's healthy. And get this: the Steelers straight up declined his fifth-year option in April. That tells you everything, right? You know our guys would fight tooth and nail for their spot, but this situation? It's a total mess, and Steelers fans must be absolutely losing it over the uncertainty.

QB Battles, Big Comebacks, and Rookie Fire Around the League

Meanwhile, out in Las Vegas, Kirk Cousins is already getting down to business at the Raiders' OTAs. Ryan McFadden of ESPN says Cousins was the first quarterback on the field during the team period Wednesday, with Aidan O'Connell and their No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza following. Coach Klint Kubiak hasn't named a starter yet, but McFadden's already calling Cousins the favorite to open the season, given his experience and familiarity with Kubiak's system. But don't sleep on Mendoza, folks. Kubiak himself said the kid has been "as advertised," and there's no doubt he's gonna climb that depth chart eventually.

And then there's Bills defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, who's making a heroic comeback story. Remember he tore his Achilles and missed the entire 2025 season? Well, Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com reported he was back on the field at Buffalo's OTAs Wednesday. He's moved past that brutal injury, bulked up to 330 pounds, and is ready to compete for nose tackle reps. This guy played 11 games his rookie year with 14 tackles and a pass defensed. That's pure grit, and you gotta respect that fight.

Finally, a quick shout-out to Dylan Harper of the Spurs. Shams Charania of ESPN confirmed Harper earned NBA All-Rookie first team honors for the 2025-26 season. Always awesome to see young talent shining bright!

It's always wild to see what's happening outside the Emerald City, but these stories just make you hungrier for our own teams to kick into high gear. Keep those eyes peeled, 12s, the season is just getting started, and you know we'll be here for every single play!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.