Pittsburgh Steelers GM Omar Khan stated early last week that the team is closely monitoring fourth-year offensive tackle Broderick Jones\u2019 recovery from a season-ending neck injury last year that ultimately required surgery.<\/p>\n
Khan said Jones obviously suffered a \u201csignificant injury\u201d that led to the surgery. He added that it was a \u201cgood question\u201d whether Jones will be healthy to open the season.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Now, thanks to a report from The Athletic\u2019s Mike DeFabo, it\u2019s a bit clearer just what Jones and the Steelers are dealing with.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen 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\u2019 neck could be a major curveball that changes plans in the short and long term,\u201d DeFabo writes.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Back from the combine. What I\u2019m hearing about:<\/p>\n \u2022 Rodgers latest<\/p>\n \u2022 A market for Muth<\/p>\n \u2022 Highsmith \/ Herbig<\/p>\n \u2022 Broderick\u2019s injury<\/p>\n \u2022 At CB, Steelers talking with pending FAs \u2014 drafting one likely <\/p>\n \u2022 Meetings with \u201826 QBs<\/p>\n FREE link open to all:https:\/\/t.co\/MIsQv0wHkr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) March 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cBroderick Jones had stingers. I don\u2019t have any further description of that. I think he\u2019ll be examined,\u201d former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said immediately after the loss to the Bears.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Khan admitted as much. He said at the Combine that Jones\u2019 medical outlook will play a factor in the Steelers\u2019 decision regarding his fifth-year option<\/a> ahead of the May 1 deadline.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Broderick situation, we\u2019re monitoring the medical part of it. That that has something to do with it,\u201d Khan told reporters<\/a>, including our own Joe Clark and Ross McCorkle, regarding Jones\u2019 fifth-year decision.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s unclear what specific surgery Jones had on his neck, but it\u2019s serious enough that the Steelers are concerned about the medical outlook.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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,\u201d\u00a0DeFabo writes.<\/p>\n