During the last Combine, Fautanu was reported to have been medically red-flagged for "a knee issue that would be expected to significantly affect his longevity in the NFL." Many questioned the validity of the report. But from what I have been able to discover is that he has been found to have significant articular deficit in his right knee. In the past I have always pointed out the way a right vs left-side OL can be affected differently for a right vs left-sided arm/shoulder or lower extremity injury. Fautanu is being switched to the right side in order to transfer the major mechanical forces to his left knee, and minimize further trauma to his right knee...............hopefully preserving additional longevity in the NFL.
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Fautanu: Adjusting to right tackle just a matter of time
By Josh Alper
Published June 4, 2024 09:52 AM
Steelers first-round pick Troy Fautanu signed his first NFL contract on Monday and that means he can devote his full attention to transitioning to the professional ranks.
Part of that process includes getting comfortable with playing a new position. Fautanu played left tackle at Washington, but will be playing on the right side in Pittsburgh and he discussed how much of an adjustment he’s making in order to get ready to man the spot this fall.
“You constantly push off one leg thousands and thousands of times,” Fautanu said, via Tim Benz of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “Then you switch to the other side, and you aren’t really used to pushing off the other leg. It’s just a matter of time. I’ve already talked to my strength coaches. They already know it’s an area I want to improve — the strength of my left leg. I’m so right-leg dominant after playing the left side so long; it’s just something I’ve got to work on.”
The Steelers picked up left tackle Broderick Jones in the first round in 2023 and a successful transition for Fautanu should set them up with bookends on the offensive line for years to come.