The Pittsburgh Steelers delivered an encouraging news update on first-round pick Max Iheanachor ahead of practice on Monday, August 24.
Head coach Mike McCarthy relayed to reporters, including Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, that Iheanachor would return to practice today. The offensive lineman has been limited to individual drills since early August as he dealt with an upper-body injury.
Iheanachor has missed the first two preseason games of the exhibition schedule. His return to practice will give him an opportunity to make his team debut on Thursday, August 27, against the Buffalo Bills. Iheanachor has less than three weeks to get up to speed ahead of the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, September 13.
Pittsburgh Steelers News Update: Max Iheanachor To Return To Practice
GettyPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 24: 21st pick Max Iheanachor of the Pittsburgh Steelers dances on stage prior to Round Two of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Pittsburgh took Iheanachor with the No. 21 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He impressed scouts with a 4.91 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Iheanachor played three seasons of college ball at Arizona State. He was the sixth offensive tackle selected in the draft. The lineman-heavy first round saw seven offensive tackles and a pair of offensive guards taken within the first 32 picks.
Iheanachor was ruled out for the second preseason game early last week. It was a tough outcome for a young player in desperate need of reps on the offensive line. Iheanachor was already seen as a long-term project considering his limited football history. He’s now in line to begin the year on the bench after missing critical development time in camp.
Steelers Revamp Right Side of the Offensive Line
GettyPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 04: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a touchdown with Spencer Anderson #74 during the fourth quarter fabr at Acrisure Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
The Steelers have made multiple changes on the right side of the offensive line heading into the 2026 campaign. Right guard Isaac Seumalo signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He’d been a valuable member of the offensive line for the past three seasons. Seumalo joined the team after seven years with the Philadelphia Eagles. He earned his first career Pro Bowl selection in 2024.
Fourth-year player Spencer Anderson is expected to take over for Seumalo. The former seventh-round pick notched a career-high seven starts in 2025. He’s held off Brock Hoffman and Steven Jones for the starting right guard role.
With Iheanachor banged up, it’s been Dylan Cook handling the right tackle spot. Cook appeared in five games as a rookie last season. He made four starts while bouncing between the practice squad and the active roster.
Left tackle Troy Fautanu, left guard Mason McCormick, and center Zach Frazier fill out the offensive line. That leaves former first-round pick Broderick Jones likely filling a backup role. Jones was limited to 11 games in 2025 while dealing with injuries. He struggled to perform when healthy.
Steelers Share Positive Injury News on 1st-Round Pick