James

Daniels

Daniels exited in the first half of Sunday’s loss and didn’t return to the field. It’s a tough loss for the Steelers, who also lost rookie right tackle Troy Fautanu for the season after he suffered a dislocated knee cap before Week 3’s matchup against the Chargers. Daniels has started all 36 games he’s appeared in for the Steelers since joining them in 2022 and was having a strong season before going down. Guard Spencer Anderson filled in for Daniels following his exit and will presumably takeover at right guard for the Steelers for the foreseeable future.

Moore went down with the knee injury early in Pittsburgh’s Week 4 matchup with the Texans. He was unable to return to the contest. Fellow Pittsburgh linemen Chukwuma Okorafor and James Daniels were also sidelined for the first practice of the week. With Kenny Pickett attempting to play through a knee issue, this is the worst time for Pittsburgh lose multiple offensive linemen.

Daniels has primarily played guard throughout his career including 17 starts at right guard for the Bears last season, but he also has experience at center. Sticking at right guard makes sense with Trai Turner headed to free agency and Mason Cole added to the roster on Monday, but Daniels’ versatility will give the Steelers some options as they look to upgrade their line for new starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky.

He’ll miss the remainder of the season. Daniels, Chicago’s 2018 second-round pick, has started every game for the Bears this year and the team’s last 31 contests since being drafted. Alex Bars, who came in off the bench Thursday and played 31 offensive snaps, is expected to make his first career start in the interim in Week 6 against Carolina. It’s obviously an impactful loss for Chicago, which has allowed the league’s fourth-most pressures through Week 5.

Coach Matt Nagy hinted the Bears could move Daniels to center after he played left guard as a rookie, and it looks like that move is now official. With Daniels at center, Cody Whitehair will kick out to left guard. LT Charles Leno, RG Kyle Long, and RT Bobby Massie should round out the starting unit.

Whitehair entered the league as a guard, but he has played almost exclusively at center the last three years. Daniels, on the other hand, was drafted as a center in the second round last year, but he spent his rookie season at left guard. Swapping them makes some sense, but both performed well in their previous roles. No matter where they end up, both should start for a quality offensive line.

The Bears declined LG Josh Sitton’s option, leaving an immediate opening for Daniels. Daniels offers plus mobility and can play anywhere on the interior, but he’s currently projected to start alongside LT Charles Leno with Cody Whitehair at center, Kyle Long at right guard, and Bobby Massie at right tackle.

Daniels (6’3/306) made 25 starts in three years for the Hawkeyes, manning center in his final two seasons and earning only honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2017. Although Daniels was not a decorated collegiate, he offers Rodney Hudson-level upside as an exceptionally athletic mover with a technically-sound game and long arms for a center (33 ¾"). Only 20 years old, Daniels is the highest-ceiling center prospect in this draft class and, if needed, could probably make a seamless transition to guard, although this pick almost certainly means 2016 second-rounder Cody Whitehair will move to guard.