Steelers/NFL
Getting hit with injuries to the offensive line and poor play from starting left tackle Jonathan Scott, will not prompt the Steelers to look for a potential starting tackle on the free agent market.
Left tackle Jonathan Scott is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs the Houston Texans and for this week and moving forward, the Steelers will stay in-house.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said today during his weekly press conference that Marcus Gilbert (shoulder) will remain at right tackle regardless of Scott’s availability and that Trai Essex would step in.
Scott is in a walking boot but his injury is not considered a high ankle sprain, which normally sidelines a player for 4-to-6 weeks.
Gilbert who suffered a right shoulder injury against the Colts, is expected to practice and play on Sunday. The Steelers have no intentions of moving Gilbert to left tackle and don’t want to throw too much at him.
“Marcus Gilbert will be right tackle. We’re comfortable with Trai Essex and what he’s capable of doing on the left side of our offensive line, ” Tomlin said. “We’ve played a lot of football with Trai in the past and generally been above the line and anticipated being.”
Tomlin when asked about Scott’s performance, pointed to Dwight Freeney as a reason for Scott’s poor play. The Steelers most notably offensive line coach Sean Kugler remain fully behind Scott.
“If he’s deemed healthy, he will play left tackle, ” Tomlin said on Scott. “I think I was pretty clear with what Dwight Freeney was capable of prior to the game.”
Tomlin said the Steelers could look at outside options but he was emphatic that it will only be for practice purposes.
The team is not showing any interest in adding a potential starter, hence there is no renewed interest in Flozell Adams.
Max Starks also remains off their radar.
Elsewhere on the injury front, Doug Legursky is questionable at this point with a shoulder injury. Ramon Foster will step in at right guard if he can’t give it a go.
