The Pittsburgh Steelers might have to find a temporary long snapper thanks to an injury to Christian Kuntz.
Kuntz suffered a sternum injury during the preseason Week 2 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which forced his early exit from the contest.
On Monday, Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly reported that Kuntz’s sternum injury “is believed to be” a break, which could keep him out for “several weeks to months.”
“Steelers LS Christian Kuntz’ injury is his sternum,” Kaboly wrote. “It is believed to be broken, according to a source. That would keep him out for several weeks to months.”
Kuntz originally joined the Steelers in 2020 but didn’t play his first snaps with the team until 2021. Over the last three years, the Duquesne product has served as Pittsburgh’s long snapper and hasn’t missed a game in that span.
After Kuntz’s exit on Saturday, the Steelers deployed defensive tackle Logan Lee in his stead and things went off without a hitch.
“Coach Tomlin always talks about, ‘the more you can do.’ And I’m just blessed the Lord gave me an opportunity and praying for Christian right now, too,” Lee said following Saturday’s game.
The 2024 sixth-round pick missed all of his rookie season due to injury, but he has a good shot to grab a roster spot, so the Steelers should have his long-snapping services on the roster.
That said, chances are the Steelers are going to bring someone else in if Kuntz is indeed going to miss significant time.
Pittsburgh worked out four long snappers on Sunday, with the list including Rick Lovato, Jake McQuaide, Taybor Pepper, and Patrick Scales. The team previously had Tucker Addington on the roster before cutting him earlier this month.
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