Steelers could turn to versatile Joe Haeg with Chuks Okorafor dealing with concussion

Chuks Okorafor will begin the week of practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers in concussion protocol, which could mean a potential new starter at right tackle Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

Okorafor left in the second half of the Steelers’ 24-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and his replacement, Joe Haeg, played the final 33 offensive snaps.

Zach Banner, the projected starter at right tackle entering training camp, is an option, but he remains on injured reserve as he recovers from a knee injury. Once deemed able to practice, Banner would have 21 days to be activated to the 53-man roster.

Asked about his offensive line depth, coach Mike Tomlin said he doesn’t “feel limited in any way” about his options.

With Banner out, though, Haeg is the only option to start at tackle.

The Steelers signed Haeg, a reserve on Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl-winning team, to a two-year, $4.6 million contract to play the role he filled after Okorafor was concussed against the Bengals.

A six-year veteran who spent his first four seasons with Indianapolis, Haeg has started 38 out of 73 games he has played.

“I thought he gave us a solid effort,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “That’s one of the things that attracted us to him. He’s been a swing tackle for the better part of his career, a guy that is capable of stepping up and playing above the line on a limited amount of exposure.

“He is equally effective at right tackle as he is a left. He’s also been involved in some short-yardage tight end things and functions in the past, and all of that was attractive.”

Using a blocking tackle as an extra tight end is one of the few options the Steelers haven’t used yet this season to try to fix the NFL’s last-ranked running game. With two rookies and another first-year starter on the line, the Steelers are averaging 53 yards per game rushing in their 1-2 start.

Tomlin said some development for the young linemen can take place before other areas are noticed.

“Skills relative to their positions, knowledge or understanding based on experience, I think, happens quickly,” he said. “You make mistakes, you learn. It’s imprinted in your mind forever. But the cohesion, the collective, the things that are collective in nature, are usually a longer process.”