When the Steelers selected offensive tackle Chukwuma "Chuks" Okorafor with the second of their two third-round picks in this year's draft, some felt the team was wasting a pick.
After all, the Steelers had all five starters returning on their offensive line and already had taken receiver James Washington in the second round and quarterback Mason Rudolph with the first of their two third-round selections.
Sunday in Denver, however, the 21-year-old Okorafor, a native of Nigeria who moved to the U.S. when he was 12, could be called upon to make his first career NFL start when the Steelers play the Broncos.
Starter Marcus Gilbert has missed the past four games with a knee injury and will miss his fifth against the Broncos. His backup, Matt Feiler, is officially questionable to play against the Broncos after suffering a pectoral injury in last Sunday's 20-16 win at Jacksonville.
Feiler missed practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday and Friday. That could open the door for Okorafor, a product of Central Michigan, the same school that produced Antonio Brown, to seal the edge for Ben Roethlisberger.
"He's a big, strong young guy," offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said. "I say young because he is. He's got his footing because he's had to play. We've put him in positions to play. We've done that in the past with other young, developing linemen, so it's not going to be foreign being in the huddle with Ben."
Okorafor has played 66 offensive snaps this season, mostly as a blocking tight end. It's something, as Fichtner mentioned, the Steelers have done in previous years with backup linemen.
That, however, is much different than the task Okorafor could face this week trying to block Denver outside linebacker Von Miller, an All-Pro who has 10 sacks already this season and reached 100 for his career in a win over the Chargers last week.
Of course, there were few people who thought Feiler would play as well as he has since stepping into the lineup in place of Gilbert.
The Steelers are 5-0 overall this season with Feiler at right tackle — Gilbert also missed a game earlier in the season with a hamstring injury.
But the Steelers' linemen point to the preparation that position coach Mike Munchak puts them through as a reason why they have had success, no matter who is playing.
"He’s always making sure we understand everything going into a game plan and making sure we know the weaknesses of our individual techniques and things like that," left tackle Alejandro Villanueva said.
And Munchak has confidence Okorafor will be ready if needed.
“He’s moved a long way,” Munchak said last month of Okorafor. “He’s way ahead of where we thought he’d be. When you draft a kid, you’re not quite sure how he will adjust to what you are asking him to do, but he’s done a nice job.”
Gilbert won't be the only starter missing. Defensive end Stephon Tuitt also will miss his second consecutive game with a hyperextended elbow.