Steelers LT Broderick Jones looking forward to keeping Aaron Rodgers 'upright' this season

For the first time in an NFL career that is entering its third season, Broderick Jones is being entrusted to protect his quarterback’s blind side at left tackle.

And not just any quarterback. He’s tasked with blocking for 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP.

“I have to keep him upright all season,” Jones said Friday on the second day of training camp for the Pittsburgh Steelers at Saint Vincent.

Rodgers has developed a reputation for keeping the mood light-hearted off the field in the early stages of camp, with teammates remarking about the way he tells jokes to make for a loose atmosphere.

Jones was asked if Rodgers has given him some good-natured ribbing about the importance of his role as a first-year starter at left tackle.

“Not really,” Jones said. “He has a couple slick remarks. Not just to me but in general around the whole team. You have to keep on your toes with him.”

Rodgers isn’t the only one keeping Jones light on his feet this summer. Knowing the opportunity that awaited him after the Steelers elected not to re-sign left tackle Dan Moore Jr. in free agency, Jones reported to offseason workouts weighing 305 pounds. That was a 20-pound reduction in his playing weight from the 2024 season.

Jones has kept off the weight with the plan to pack on some pounds if needed.

“It’s easier to put on weight than to lose weight,” he said.

The Steelers will find out this camp whether a slimmer Jones is an improved version of the player that spent the past two seasons playing on the right side of the offensive line with mixed results. Of Jones’ 27 career starts, all but one came at right tackle. His only start at left tackle came in Week 5 of his rookie season in 2023 when Moore was injured.

“I expect him to do what we drafted him to do,” coach Mike Tomlin said Friday. “He was a left tackle prospect, a highly regarded one. He was a young guy when he came out, and he had some on-the-job training and some experience.

“It’s a big year for him, one where we expect him to play and play varsity ball.”

Jones has an appreciation for the increased responsibility the Steelers have entrusted him with this season.

“Always,” he said. “I’m always grateful for the opportunity. I just have to show what I can do.”

Jones moving back to his natural position — he played left tackle at Georgia until he was drafted No. 14 overall by the Steelers in 2023 — has a two-fold effect on the offensive line. It also paved the way for Troy Fautanu, the team’s 2024 first-round pick, to start at right tackle.

Fautanu actually sent Jones to the bench for one game early last season before a knee injury ended his rookie season. The rest of the offensive line consists of second-year players in center Zach Frazier and right guard Mason McCormick. Left guard Isaac Seumalo, the only established veteran in the group, began training camp on the non-football injury list, giving third-year player Spencer Anderson a chance to start in the interim.

“It’s not just me and Brod,” Fautanu said. “It’s this entire line. It’s a new lineup. Finding a way to jell and prove we can be the O-line we want to be is going to be crucial for this team and our success. All of us have a lot to prove.”

Perhaps Jones more than most. In 2024, he was credited with allowing 11 sacks, the most of any NFL right tackle.

“It’s no pressure,” he said. “I’ve been playing football all my life. The X’s and O’s are going to continue to be X’s and O’s. I have to continue to do what I can.”

And that is protecting the blind side of a quarterback who ranks seventh on the NFL’s all-time passing yardage list.

“It’s just crazy now that I’ve got A-Rod behind me,” Jones said. “I went from Russ (Wilson) to A-Rod. Those are two good quarterbacks that you never think you would be blocking for.”