‘Looks Like A Tight End’: Kaboly Doesn’t See Broderick Jones In Starting OT Conversation

Though he avoided starting training camp on the Active/PUP list and has practiced fully with no restrictions so far, don’t expect Pittsburgh Steelers veteran offensive tackle Broderick Jones to factor into the starting conversation this summer.

That’s how longtime Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly sees things, at least.

“He’s just not the size he needs to be right now,” Kaboly said of Jones Monday morning on 93.7 The Fan, according to audio via 93.7 The Fan. “First of all, it doesn’t do any good, because he’s definitely going one way or the other next year. You got two first-round picks on either side at your tackles. So where does he fit? It doesn’t mean he [wouldn’t] be valuable this year as a swing tackle or a guy that can fill in because of injury, but he has to show a whole heck of a lot here to show them that he’s back to where he needs to be.

“I think he said he had a pinched nerve in his neck that led to whatever fusion or whatever or not. He’s just, he’s a slender guy. He looks like a tight end now.”

His size is the biggest question with Jones right now. After getting cleared for the start of training camp, Jones revealed he weighs 300 pounds right now, which is well under what he tends to play at. Putting on weight in training camp can be a difficult thing to do.

Last week, Jones told reporters that he wants to be around 310-315 pounds, but adding weight in training camp is going to be a major challenge. Add that he’ll be working at both offensive tackle positions in training camp while trying to get his legs back underneath him, and it puts Jones behind the 8-ball a bit.

Even if he doesn’t put himself in the starting conversation at left tackle with Troy Fautanu, or right tackle with Dylan Cook and rookie Max Iheanachor, Jones’ return will strengthen the depth chart across the board, giving Pittsburgh a very good swing tackle.