The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed rookie guard Gennings Dunker on the injured reserve list, the team announced on Saturday.
According to report by Tom Pelissero of Netflix , Dunker suffered an MCL sprain when he got his leg rolled up on at practice on Thursday, and he is expected to miss four to six weeks, but will not have to have surgery. Dunker did not practice on Friday and had already been ruled out for this week's AFC North-opening contest against the Cincinnati Bengals .
Fellow guard Spencer Anderson , who started the Steelers' initial two games to Zach Frazier 's right, reportedly suffered a broken bone in his lower right leg during Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots . Anderson was a full participant in practice all week, but Brock Hoffman seems likely to start in his place on Sunday in any case.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked four times in that loss, including one where Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss zoomed in off the left edge and hit the 42-year-old in his back at full speed.
Dunker, an Iowa product, was tabbed as an inactive for the Steelers ' first two games. He was among the blockers that Steelers offensive line coach James Campen praised for his progress since arriving in black and gold.
Pittsburgh Steelers guard Gennings Dunker during a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 13, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Dunker, who stands at 6-foot-5, 319 pounds, has 33.5-inch arms and 10-inch hands. He played both left guard and right tackle at Iowa. He's an absolute mauler in the run game, but needs to improve in the pass blocking department.
Dunker played through multiple injuries in the 2025 season (shoulder, MCL tear). His toughness and grit are two traits that were praised by analysts in the pre-draft process.
He made headlines at the NFL Combine for his flowing red-haired mullet and thick mustache. Dunker is widely known for his love of Culver's, a Midwestern fast-food chain.
Former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce said after Dunker was drafted that he has the exact physique desired from a big man on the offensive side of the ball.
"He looks like a Clydesdale," Kelce said. "If you were gonna design an offensive lineman in a laboratory, this is what he'd look like."
Chris Ward and Brendan Howe contributed.
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