Steelers fans got some bad news midway through Week 3’s Sunday Night Football, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reporting that Steelers rookie right tackle Troy Fautanu is out for the rest of the regular season with the knee injury he suffered during practice last week.
Fautanu was placed on injured reserve ahead of the Steelers’ matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Sources: #Steelers impressive rookie RT Troy Fautanu, who was placed on IR this week, suffered what is essentially a dislocated kneecap and will have surgery to repair the ligament damage.
Fautanu is out for the regular season, tho could return if PIT makes the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/scilIo6Eqk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 23, 2024
Rapoport added that Fautanu could return in time of the playoffs.
The reason behind the length of Fautanu’s IR stay is that his knee injury will require surgery. Per Rapoport, he “suffered what is essentially a dislocated kneecap and will have surgery to repair the ligament damage.”
Fautanu was drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Steelers. After missing some of the summer with injury, he made his first career start against the Denver Broncos in Week 2, impressing in both the run game and pass protection.
In his stead, Steelers’ 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones is expected to continue starting at right tackle moving forward.
