Mike Tomlin: Rookie Troy Fautanu 'deserving' of chance to compete for starting right tackle job

Among the injuries that weren’t identified in the aftermath of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 18-10 win at Atlanta in the season opener was one to left tackle Dan Moore Jr.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Moore experienced swelling in one of his ankles Monday, and it may limit the fourth-year veteran’s practice participation this week.

Could the setback for Moore pave the way for rookie first-round pick Troy Fautanu to work with the first-team offensive line at right tackle, a move that would send Broderick Jones to left tackle?

Tomlin wasn’t asked that question directly at his weekly news conference but said he was impressed by Fautanu’s progression before a knee injury suffered in the first half of the preseason opener sidelined the rookie tackle for the rest of training camp.

Fautanu returned to practice last week and was a full participant Thursday and Friday. He was active for the opener against the Falcons but did not play in the game.

Asked if Fautanu is completely healthy, Tomlin said, “I don’t know what that means, but he’s practicing.”

Tomlin said it’s “more difficult” for Fautanu to compete for a starting position with the season underway but added, “we have a commitment to continuing it because we like what we saw from him in team development. He’s deserving of that. His talents are deserving of that. We’ll balance that the best we can.”

Other injuries

Tomlin isn’t ready to rule out left guard Isaac Seumalo from playing Sunday when the Steelers face the Denver Broncos at Empower Field.

While Seumalo watched the opener from the sideline with a pectoral strain, Spencer Anderson got his first career start at left guard. With Anderson and rookie center Zach Frazier on the line, the Steelers rushed for 137 yards, and quarterback Justin Fields was sacked just twice.

“There are definitely a lot of positive things to build on,” Tomlin said. “I like their attitude, demeanor and finish. We’ll keep working on the fine details.”

Cornerback Darius Rush didn’t finish the opener because of concussion symptoms, and he remains in concussion protocol. Tomlin said rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson, who was inactive, could see an “uptick” in practice activity this week. Wilson returned to practice in a limited capacity last week after missing almost all of training camp with an ankle injury.

Running back Jaylen Warren had just four touches on 21 snaps in his return from a hamstring injury. Tomlin said Warren’s health is a “slippery slope,” adding, “he’s healthy enough, certainly.”

Welcome back

With the Steelers playing their next game in mile-high altitude, Tomlin said it was a logical choice to re-sign punter Corliss Waitman as a replacement for Cameron Johnston.

“He’s really familiar with the environment we’re going into,” Tomlin said.

Johnston will miss the rest of the season because of a “major” knee injury that will require surgery.

Waitman was on the Steelers practice squad in 2021 and appeared in two games for the team. He spent the 2022 season with the Broncos but did not appear in a game last season.

Waitman had a 40.5-yard net punting average in eight home games with the Broncos that season. He had a 42.3 net average in nine road games that season.

Welcome back II

Tomlin said Terrell Edmunds’ history with the organization was a factor in the Steelers signing him off Jacksonville’s practice squad. Edmunds spent his first five seasons with the Steelers before playing with Philadelphia and Tennessee last year.

His addition gives the Steelers an abundance of safeties on the 53-man roster.

“You can’t get enough of those scenarios,” Tomlin said. “It might not be a significant need now, but it might be a difference scenario a few weeks from now.”

Tomlin compared it to the Steelers bringing back cornerback Cameron Sutton after a one-year absence.

“When we’ve got guys that we know fit, that understand this environment, that we are know are capable of helping us and we have an opportunity to do business — whether there’s a tremendous need or not — we have an interest,” he said.