Steelers roster spotlight: What to expect from Gennings Dunker in 2026
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Steelers roster spotlight: What to expect from Gennings Dunker in 2026
Andrew Vasquez, Steelers Wire
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1 min read
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One of thePittsburgh Steelers' biggest sleeper picks in the2026 NFL Draft— third-rounder Gennings Dunker — could be in for a huge rookie season.
From now until the start of the regular season, we atSteelersWire will be analyzing every player on the roster. Here's a look at Dunker and what could be in store for his 2026 season.
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At a glance
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 319 pounds
Age: 23 years old
NFL experience: Rookie
Week 1:Sunday, Sept. 13, vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brett Davis, Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
Week 2:Sunday, Sept. 20, at New England Patriots, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brian Fluharty, Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)
Week 3:Sunday, Sept. 27, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
Week 4:Thursday Night Football, Oct. 1, at Cleveland Browns, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
Week 5:Sunday, Oct. 11, vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
Week 6:Sunday, Oct. 18, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Barry Reeger, Barry Reeger-Imagn Images)
Week 7:Sunday, Oct. 25, at New Orleans Saints, 9:30 a.m. ET (Paris)
(SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network, SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network)
Week 8:Sunday, Nov. 1, vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Jeff Lange, Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Week 9:Bye week
(Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)
Week 10:Sunday Night Football, Nov. 15, at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer, Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Week 11:Sunday, Nov. 22, at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
Week 12:Friday, Nov. 27, vs. Denver Broncos, 3:00 p.m. ET (Black Friday Game)
(Ron Chenoy, Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
Week 13:Sunday Night Football, Dec. 6, vs. Houston Texans, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
Week 14:Monday Night Football, Dec. 14, at Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union)
Week 15:Sunday, Dec. 20, vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
Week 16:TBD, vs. Carolina Panthers, TBD
(Allison Lawhon, Imagn Images)
Week 17:Sunday, Jan. 3, at Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Philip G. Pavely, Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports)
Week 18:TBD, at Baltimore Ravens, TBD
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
1/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 1:Sunday, Sept. 13, vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brett Davis, Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
1/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 1:Sunday, Sept. 13, vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brett Davis, Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
2/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 2:Sunday, Sept. 20, at New England Patriots, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brian Fluharty, Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)
3/18
Steelers experimenting with new position for massive tight end Darnell Washington
Week 3:Sunday, Sept. 27, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
4/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 4:Thursday Night Football, Oct. 1, at Cleveland Browns, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
5/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 5:Sunday, Oct. 11, vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
6/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 6:Sunday, Oct. 18, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Barry Reeger, Barry Reeger-Imagn Images)
7/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 7:Sunday, Oct. 25, at New Orleans Saints, 9:30 a.m. ET (Paris)
(SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network, SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network)
8/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 8:Sunday, Nov. 1, vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Jeff Lange, Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
9/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 9:Bye week
(Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)
10/18
Takeaways from the Steelers 2026 regular-season schedule release
Week 10:Sunday Night Football, Nov. 15, at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer, Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
11/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 11:Sunday, Nov. 22, at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
12/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 12:Friday, Nov. 27, vs. Denver Broncos, 3:00 p.m. ET (Black Friday Game)
(Ron Chenoy, Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
13/18
Former Steelers linebacker returns to Pittsburgh after UFL breakout
Week 13:Sunday Night Football, Dec. 6, vs. Houston Texans, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
14/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 14:Monday Night Football, Dec. 14, at Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union)
15/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 15:Sunday, Dec. 20, vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
16/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 16:TBD, vs. Carolina Panthers, TBD
(Allison Lawhon, Imagn Images)
17/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 17:Sunday, Jan. 3, at Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Philip G. Pavely, Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports)
18/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 18:TBD, at Baltimore Ravens, TBD
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
Career with the Steelers
Dunker, a massive human being who played at Iowa for four seasons in college, was selected by the Steelers with the 96th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
What's next in 2026?
Despite his previous experience at offensive tackle, Dunker switched to guard at the NFL level. And that could actually open the door for a starting opportunity faster than it would have at offensive tackle. The Steelers have a major hole at right guard and are expected to name a starter between Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman. If neither player manages to impress, however, the spot could be Dunker's for the taking.
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