Why Landry Jones Makes It

Landry Jones works out on the South Side in June. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)

Good morning,

Yes, last night’s game was an abomination, but what did you expect? Most of the preseason is that way and the teams have turned what used to be the most important exhibition game into the least important for fear of getting their most important players hurt.

So Landry Jones gets his second preseason start at quarterback and his offense comes up empty. I get the sense many people believe he will be cut or at least should be cut/placed on the practice squad.

He will make the 53-man roster and here is their thinking as to why:

They fear losing him. They are not keeping him because they may still believe he has great potential, although one year without playing or taking many snaps in practice is not always the best evaluator. They fear by exposing him to waivers in order to put him on the practice squad, someone will pluck him off for the mere fact he was a fourth-round draft pick who they might think still has potential after just one year of sitting on a roster as a No. 3 quarterback.

So what if they lose him? Well, they still want three quarterbacks on their roster and they would have to go find another because they would not want undrafted rookie Brendon Kay in that role. They would have to find someone else, be it young or old, to be their No. 3 and then retrain him in their offense in case one of their top two quarterbacks were hurt.

I’m not saying that is the way to go, just saying that’s why they will go the way they will.

--- The injury to Martavis Bryant might cost someone a roster spot, or at least a chance to go on injured reserve. The rookie has an AC joint shoulder “sprain,” according to Mike Tomlin. That usually means “separation” where the collar bone separates from the shoulder blade. According to the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado – created by Dr. Richard Steadman, who long saw athletes and their injuries before his retirement this year – the injury normally does not require surgery and can take a few days to 12 weeks in which to recover.

If it’s more toward the latter, Bryant would be a candidate for that one slot on the short-term injured reserve list where he could return anytime after mid-season. They had been considering two rookies for that one spot available, linebacker Jordan Zumwalt or cornerback Shaq Richardson. To go on that list, the player first must make the 53-man roster. Then he can go on the list and someone else can be added to the 53-man roster.

--- I believe Bryant was hurt when Landry Jones’ pass to him over the middle was high and forced Bryant to go high to catch it and he was slammed. It was a classic case of a quarterback hanging his receiver out to dry, although I’m sure that was not Jones’ intent.

--- Ed Kiely may have had little relevance to modern Steelers fans but he worked behind the scenes on some important aspects of the franchise’s development and was maybe the closest confidant to founder Art Rooney Sr. than anyone outside his family. If you want to know more about this franchise’s history and how it operates, you should read my obituary on him in today’s Post-Gazette.

--- And if you are wondering what the Steelers 53-man roster might look like by Saturday, Gerry Dulac already has done the heavy lifting for you.

--- We will wrap this up with one Ask Ed:

--- YOU: Is there a limit to the number of players that can be placed on IR? Richardson, Bryant and Zumalt are all injured to varying degrees. Could/would the Steelers place all 3 on I/R to retain their rights. The salary cap impact should be minimal since they’re all lower round draft pick rookies.

ED: No limit and as you point out, they do count against the cap on injured reserve.