Steelers left tackle Dan Moore back at practice, reclaims 1st-team reps over Broderick Jones

Chris Adamski
Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 2:41 p.m. | Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 2:41 p.m.

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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Shown during an organized team activities session in May, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Dan Moore Jr. (front) is holding off first-round pick Broderick Jones (rear) in regards to the team’s starting left tackle job. Moore took first-team reps Monday as he returned to practice after a knee injury.

Dan Moore Jr. was back at Pittsburgh Steelers practice Monday. And he was back with the first-team offense, too.

Moore confirmed he was taking reps with the starters when speaking after Monday’s session at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. The three-year veteran said he suffered a sprained MCL during an Oct. 1 loss at the Houston Texans, an injury that caused him to miss last week’s home win against the Baltimore Ravens.

But as the Steelers returned from their bye week for a “bonus” practice Monday, Moore repping with the first team is an indication the organization is not ready to turn over the starting left tackle gig to rookie first-round pick Broderick Jones yet. Jones made his first NFL start Oct. 8 against Baltimore and appeared to perform no worse than adequately.

“He looked good,” Moore said in evaluating Jones against the Ravens. “I thought he played well. He did what he was asked.”

That assessment seems to be the consensus from outside observers, too — which has made many assume (with some fans downright hoping) Jones would take over as the starter.

Jones politely declined an interview request Monday, citing the need to attend a meeting. Moore, despite his first-team status at practice, wasn’t going to assume anything in regards to who would start Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Rams.

“I show up, and I do what I’m asked,” Moore said. “That’s it.”

There’s a school of thought that a player cannot lose his job because of injury. Aside from that being proven false (think, for example, of then-rookie first-round pick Ben Roethlisberger taking over as starter when veteran quarterback Tommy Maddox suffered an elbow injury), Moore doesn’t buy into that line of thinking.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Moore said. “This business is unexpected. You really don’t know what happens. I just show up and do what I’m asked.”

Last week’s game was only the second since the start of the 2021 season that Moore was not the Steelers’ starter at left tackle.

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