In discussing the possibility of Kevin Dotson starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers, coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday said, “There is some angst here.”
If that’s the case, the way things are trending it’s becoming increasingly likely that Tomlin and the Steelers could have plenty of angst-filled moments leading into Sunday’s home opener.
Neither David DeCastro nor Stefan Wisniewski practiced Thursday, leaving Dotson as the proverbial next man up to start at right guard against the Denver Broncos. A rookie fourth-round pick from Sun Belt Conference program Louisiana, Dotson is viewed positively by the organization as a future starter — but in an ideal world, 2020 would be a “redshirt” of sorts, particularly in lieu of there being no on-field team workouts over the summer and a shortened training camp out of coronavirus concerns.
Dotson also missed part of the abbreviated camp because of injury.
“There is always going to be a little angst there,” offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said of starting a rookie on the offensive line. “But this is professional football. These guys are professionals out there working. The nice unique thing is … there’s a good strong (veteran) nucleus (on the offensive line) from a communication standpoint to a … ‘big brother’ standpoint.
“So I have a little more gray hair thinking about it, but in no way have we put anybody that is a part of our roster that I won’t get a good night’s sleep, because I trust them.”
Dotson will be called upon if DeCastro and Wisniewski cannot play. DeCastro has not practiced in three weeks because of a knee injury suffered during a camp scrimmage at Heinz Field, and Wisniewski suffered a pectoral injury late in the Steelers’ season-opening victory at the New York Giants on Monday.
It becomes apparent within moments of speaking to Kevin Dotson that the #Steelers rookie guard doesn’t lack energy. https://t.co/q316RUPWvo
Dotson played the game’s final series, six snaps. DeCastro and Wisniewski have 19 combined seasons of pro experience, with DeCastro having been named to the past five Pro Bowl rosters and Wisniewski starting for two of the past three Super Bowl winners.
The 6-foot-4, 321-pound Dotson was first-team All America last year by the Associated Press. But his smaller-school pedigree left him on the outside looking in for the NFL Combine, and the Steelers insulated their 2020 depth chart from having to expose Dotson by (preemptively) signing Wisniewski as a free agent and moving Matt Feiler from tackle to guard.
Should he start, Dotson also will be lining up next to a new right tackle, Chuks Okorafor, who is taking over for Zach Banner after Banner tore an ACL in his right knee Monday.
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