The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a lot of change forced upon them this offseason, through retirements and financial restrictions. They have lost nearly their entire starting offensive line from last season, for example, including 11-year veteran center Maurkice Pouncey, who retired.
Replacing him is Kendrick Green, as head coach Mike Tomlin half-heartedly confirmed earlier this week. The rookie third-round pick out of Illinois has been taking pretty much all of the first-team reps whenever he has been available, even though J.C. Hassenauer is listed as the starter.
Saturday night’s home preseason game against the Detroit Lions will be the first opportunity for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to work with Green in a game, and that’s key, perhaps the biggest reason that he may play longer than he ordinarily would, aside from adjusting to the offense.