PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Broderick Jones didn’t hide from it, rather he had an understanding and admission to why he only played six snaps on Sunday.
“I played bad,” Jones said. “It’s all it is at the end of the day. You (mess) up, you get pulled. That’s all it is. I just have to be better as a player and a man.”
It was a simple explanation for three penalties in six plays against the Broncos on Sunday. Now it’s about what he does about it. He said it was rough to watch the film of those penalties, but said you can’t get better unless you see what happened and break it down. Jones said he attacked his mistakes and also told us he apologized to Justin Fields and George Pickens during the game Sunday for his mistakes.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he’s giving him a chance to win that job back this week. The 2023 first-round pick trusts that it’s a legit competition.
“The sense of urgency is there a little bit more for me, just me trying to get that one percent every day,” Jones said. “I’m not trying to take any steps backwards. I’m coming in with the mindset to work.”
The challenge is Troy Fautanu is also a first-round pick. Fautanu now has a taste of the NFL and isn’t looking to be a part of any rotation or leave the starting lineup again.
Dan Moore is on the other side. He is the hidden part of this equation. Moore was the starting left tackle for most of two years and the team drafted Jones in the first round. Moore remained the starter. In April, the Steelers drafted Fautanu in the first round, Moore came in with the same determination and is currently still the starter.
Jones said he is still working on both sides in practice, but listed as the back-up right tackle. It appears he’s the swing tackle, at least for right now. There was a lot made of his comments that he didn’t want to be a part of a rotation, rather he either he was good enough to start or shouldn’t play. He clarified a bit on Thursday.
“It wasn’t nothing personal,” Jones said. “I felt like for me, this is the NFL. If somebody is not hurt or something like that, I feel like someone should be able to get in a groove and continue to just play throughout the game.”
He said he will do whatever Mike Tomlin wants. He’s not saying a rotation is bad, he just doesn’t want to do it. The spirit of his comments, either he earned the job or he didn’t.
He said he will come in each and every day to practice showing Tomlin and his teammates what he can do. He believes he still is that guy they drafted in the first round.
“They took me in the first round for a reason,” Jones said. “I never lost confidence. I don’t feel like they lost confidence in me. It’s just something that we have to continue to build on.”
The hope for the Steelers this competition makes all better.