Pittsburgh Steelers GM Omar Khan stated early last week that the team is closely monitoring fourth-year offensive tackle Broderick Jones’ recovery from a season-ending neck injury last year that ultimately required surgery.

Khan said Jones obviously suffered a “significant injury” that led to the surgery. He added that it was a “good question” whether Jones will be healthy to open the season. 

Now, thanks to a report from The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo, it’s a bit clearer just what Jones and the Steelers are dealing with.

“When left tackle Broderick Jones was injured in Week 12, the Steelers initially downplayed it and suggested he had a chance to return before the playoffs. However, fusion surgery in Jones’ neck could be a major curveball that changes plans in the short and long term,” DeFabo writes. 

Back from the combine. What I’m hearing about:

• Rodgers latest

• A market for Muth

• Highsmith / Herbig

• Broderick’s injury

• At CB, Steelers talking with pending FAs — drafting one likely

• Meetings with ‘26 QBs

FREE link open to all:https://t.co/MIsQv0wHkr

— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) March 2, 2026

The injury occurred in Week 12 when a Chicago Bears defender leaped and came down awkwardly on Jones, compressing his head and neck down into his shoulders. Initially, the Steelers called it a stinger.

“Broderick Jones had stingers. I don’t have any further description of that. I think he’ll be examined,” former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said immediately after the loss to the Bears. 

A few days later, Tomlin classified Jones as out just for the Week 13 game against the Buffalo Bills. Ultimately, he was placed on injured reserve, ending his season, which then reportedly led to surgery.

He was still around the team and was in good spirits, even cheering teammates on from the sidelines late in the year, but fusion surgery sounds rather serious, and certainly is concerning moving forward.

Khan admitted as much. He said at the Combine that Jones’ medical outlook will play a factor in the Steelers’ decision regarding his fifth-year option ahead of the May 1 deadline.

“The Broderick situation, we’re monitoring the medical part of it. That that has something to do with it,” Khan told reporters, including our own Joe Clark and Ross McCorkle, regarding Jones’ fifth-year decision.

Steelers cornerback and pending free agent Asante Samuel Jr. had spinal fusion-surgery in April 2025 in Pittsburgh and was ultimately able to return to game action late in the season. It’s unclear what specific surgery Jones had on his neck, but it’s serious enough that the Steelers are concerned about the medical outlook.

Hopefully the veteran offensive tackle continues to progress in his recovery and that the team can get some positive information soon. For now, the team is doing its due diligence at the offensive tackle position, both in the pre-draft process and ahead of free agency.

“The Steelers met with a handful of tackles this week in Indianapolis and also inquired with at least one agent about the status of his free-agent lineman, a league source told The Athletic,” DeFabo writes.

We have just one offensive lineman on the Steelers Combine meeting tracker, that being Notre Dame guard Billy Schrauth in an informal meeting, and it’s unclear who else the Steelers talked to at the Combine. But in a deep class, it would make sense that the Steelers would take a look at a number of players.

Pittsburgh is also reportedly releasing veteran backup offensive tackle Calvin Anderson, which would clear room behind Jones and Dylan Cook at the position, giving themselves a chance to add a player with more versatility at both tackle positions moving forward.