Steelers avoid major injury scare during training camp following injury update from head coach Mike McCarthy in Latrobe
Following a scary situation involving one of the camp’s best performers, the Pittsburgh Steelers have seemingly dodged a bullet with a player who is on pace for a bright future in Pittsburgh.
On a wet and nasty Friday in Latrobe, the Pittsburgh Steelers received some welcome news regarding first-round offensive tackle Max Iheanachor. As we reported during our live coverage at Thursday’s practice, Iheanachor left the session with what appeared to be an upper-body injury, creating immediate concern given how outstanding his inaugural training camp had been to that point.
The training staff worked on him for a significant stretch on the sideline Thursday. They couldn’t make it work, and Iheanachor walked up the hill and ended his day early. The nature of the issue was unclear at the time, with speculation ranging from a shoulder problem to a neck issue.
Max Iheanachor facts
- Born in Nigeria, moved to Compton at 13.
- Grew up playing soccer in Nigeria, didn’t play football until he moved to the States.
- Played college football at Arizona State.
Mike McCarthy provides an encouraging update
Before Friday’s practice, which was essentially canceled as a viewing event for fans and media, Steelers coach Mike McCarthy addressed reporters. That’s where the positive news came. McCarthy said Iheanachor would not practice Friday, would likely miss Saturday’s practice as well, (Saturday Night Lights at Latrobe Memorial Stadium at 6 p.m. ET, but should return to practice on Monday.
Friday’s session was originally scheduled to move indoors with no fan access before being shifted back outside. Even so, no fans were permitted, and media access was restricted with no video or play-by-play allowed. So there won’t be much to glean from what happened on the field.
Why this matters so much for Pittsburgh
The real story is the timeline. Given the scenario, given how well Iheanachor had been performing in camp, and given what recently happened with another Steelers offensive tackle, this is about as good an outcome as Pittsburgh could have hoped for.
The specter of Broderick Jones looms large here. Jones dealt with a neck issue that evolved into a stinger and eventually sidelined him indefinitely. Nobody in the organization wants to see that kind of progression happen again, especially with a first-round pick who has looked every bit the part through the early stages of camp.
A two-day absence with a Monday return is a completely different situation than what Jones went through. The Steelers have invested heavily in their offensive line, and Iheanachor has quickly become a centerpiece of that investment. Getting him back on the field early next week keeps Pittsburgh’s rebuild up front on schedule heading into the preseason.
