Matt

Feiler

Feiler was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday but will miss a third week in a row because of the knee issue. Aaron Stinnie will start in his place once again. Stinnie has played well so far and could hold Feiler off for the starting role once the latter is healthy.

Feiler started at guard in San Diego, but has outside experience in Pittsburgh as well. The 30-year-old could serve as depth at a number of spots, and is good enough to potentially challenge for a starting job inside or at the non-Tristan Wirfs tackle position for Tampa.

The team will save $8.5 million against the cap for his release. Although a key contributor to the offensive line for the Chargers, the presence of G Jamaree Salyer likely tipped the scales. Salyer should immediately step into the starting left guard position moving forward.

We don’t really understand this one on the surface. The Chargers are projected to have to cut a lot of salary to get under the cap in 2023, and Pipkins has had a fairly uninspiring career to this point, as he’s either been hurt or underwhelming. 2022 was the first season where Pipkins played more than 600 offensive snaps, and his PFF grade was merely 59.8 this past season. Popper posits that the team will move Jamaree Salyer inside and release Matt Feiler to free up $6.5 million in cap space. We’d probably prefer Salyer at right tackle.

Feiler is out with an ankle injury, and Samuel has a concussion. Rountree is a healthy scratch, so it’ll be Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley as Austin Ekeler’s backups this weekend.

Coach Brandon Staley said veteran backup Senio Kelemete or rookie Brenden Jaimes would start if Feiler can’t go. The latter is fresh off arguably his most impactful performance in the running game against the Steelers from Sunday night.

The Steelers’ left guard in 2020, Feiler also has extensive experience at tackle. He has provided above-average snaps at both spots, though he will probably be needed more on the interior in Los Angeles. The Bolts do still have a hole at tackle, however. Feiler joins C Corey Linsley as a major free agent addition for a line that needed a lot of help and is getting it.

Feiler started all 16 games for the Steelers last year but is expected to move from his usual spot at right tackle to left guard this upcoming season to accommodate for the retirement of All-Pro G Ramon Foster. Pittsburgh also has former Chiefs LG Stefen Wisniewski available if Feiler’s transition falls flat. CB Mike Hilton additionally put pen to paper on his second-round tender Friday.

Feiler has started 26 games for the Steelers over the past two seasons. 2019 statistics paint a somber picture of the Steelers’ offensive line. Nobody averaged fewer yards before contact per rush than the Steelers in 2019. Each of Devlin Hodges (No. 9) and Mason Rudolph (No. 10) ranked among PFF’s most-pressured QBs on a per-dropback basis. The offensive line obviously deserves some blame, although defenses also didn’t make a habit of respecting this passing attack. Losing long-time G Ramon Foster to retirement won’t help, but ex-Chiefs G Stefen Wisniewski should be able to serve as an adequate replacement if Feiler can’t make the transition work.

It’s probably enough for the Steelers to keep him around for 2020. Feiler started all 16 games last year and is beginning to hit his stride as a 28-year-old, although it’s possible that he eventually moves inside.