Steelers place promising nose tackle on injured list

The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed veteran nose tackle Breiden Fehoko on the injured list, the team announced Sunday. Because this is the early stages of the injury process, Fehoko will miss the entire season. Fehoko suffered a shoulder injury during practice on Tuesday.

In addition, the Steelers released linebacker Easton Gibbs and signed defensive lineman Marquiss Spencer and linebacker Luquay Washington. The Steelers also reinstated defensive lineman Dean Lowry to the active roster. Lowry began training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list.

Process! I’ll be back soon! 💪🏼💪🏼

— Breiden Fehoko (@BreidenFehoko) 11 August 2024

The Steelers signed Breiden Fehoko to a one-year contract on March 30, 2023, after his contract with the Los Angeles Chargers expired.

In his first year in Pittsburgh, Fehoko did not have any official statistics to show for himself despite appearing in seven regular-season games on the active roster, splitting his time between the team’s active roster and the practice squad.

Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Breiden Fehoko at practice on August 2, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Fehoko knew what it was like to sit back and learn from the sidelines, as he did so during his first two seasons, leading to his breakthrough in 2022.

“As I look back on my final year of play in 2022, and arguably my most productive year in the NFL, I think a big reason I was able to play so well for the Chargers this year was (two reasons),” Fehoko told Derrick Bell of Steelers now“First, I was physically ready through college and second, I was able to develop the mental skills and repetition skills over time in the NFL.

“I know that even last year I wasn’t able to play as much as I wanted to or play the role I wanted to. But by learning under Coach (Karl) Dunbar, Coach (Denzel) Martin and the other guys, I know my game has taken a whole other step in the direction I wanted to go.

The former LSU player and Hawaii native had high expectations for himself in 2024. Unfortunately, Fehoko will not be able to showcase his talent due to the season-ending shoulder injury.

The Los Angeles Chargers signed Breiden Fehoko as a free agent in 2020 after he won a national championship at LSU with Joe Burrow and many other current NFL players.

Fehoko played 19 games for the Chargers in his first three NFL seasons. In his career, Fehoko started four games and recorded 36 tackles and one tackle for loss.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT