Broderick Jones' opportunity for redemption may be coming sooner than expected.
Just days after making a successful NFL debut in the Steelers' 13-6 win over the Broncos, Troy Fautanu sustained an injury during Friday's practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, described as "a little tweak" by Jones after practice.
"We don't know what his status is going to be," Jones said. "I filled in for him. Once he gets his MRI and stuff, we'll just figure out what's going on from there."
Fautanu was officially listed as questionable by the Steelers with a knee injury.
Fautanu missed the first game of the season while finishing his recovery from an MCL sprain suffered in the Steelers' preseason opener against the Texans exactly six weeks ago. Whatever the injury is, an MRI might not be a great sign for Fautanu's availability for the Steelers' home opener Sunday against the Chargers.
"The coach is going to make the decision at the end of the day," Jones said. "We've got two days. (Fautanu)'s got a day to rest whatever it is. I don't even know what happened to him. I haven't seen him yet. We'll just figure it out and go from there."
Jones was benched prior to Sunday's win over the Broncos in favor of Fautanu, but still had an opportunity to play when Mike Tomlin decided to rotate Jones into the game out of concern over Fautanu's conditioning coming off an injury while also playing in the heat and high altitude in Denver. However, Jones was benched again after committing three penalties in a span of six plays during the game, the third of which wiped out a 51-yard bomb from Justin Fields to George Pickens, killing a promising drive.
While he initially seemed passive after the game about the penalties, Jones owned up to his mistakes this week.
"I played bad, that's all it is at the end of the day," Jones said Thursday. "You f--- up, you get pulled. That's all it is. So, I just gotta be better, continue to grow as a player, as a man and take the good with the bad."
In response to the 10 penalties the Steelers committed on Sunday in Denver, Tomlin brought in officials to work practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week, deviating from the norm of just Friday. Jones is one of the players that admittedly benefitted from the extra practices with referees.
"Yes it (helps)," Jones said. "It gives us feedback on the things we can work on or the things they may see that may hinder us from doing what we need to do during the game."
Should Jones have his number called to fill in for Fautanu, he should be plenty prepared for the task. He said there's "nothing mystical" to him about having his number called, and that he feels like he got better this week. One thing he's not looking for is some sort of redemption story, seeking the approval of those who were critical of his performance in Denver.
"I really don't care what people think," Jones said. "At the end of the day, I've gotta go out there and do my job to the best of my ability."