PITTSBURGH — With both the offensive line and quarterback positions struggling this preseason, a former NFL executive floated the idea that the Pittsburgh Steelers could sign a veteran signal caller with ties to offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to help fix their problems.

Michael Lombardi, who has worked in NFL front offices for more than three decades and was general manager of the Cleveland Browns in 2013, believes Ryan Tannehill could reliably lead the Steelers’ offense in its current ailing state.

“If the line is as bad as it was, is Ryan Tannehill out there on the street? Call Ryan Tannehill? He knows Arthur’s offense,” Lombardi said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “Last year’s rookie first-round pick, Broderick Jones, is being pushed to the back. No one can play quarterback in that situation.”

Due to a number of extenuating circumstances, the Steelers’ first team has failed to score a touchdown in eight series in the first two games of this preseason.

As Lombardi mentioned, Pittsburgh’s O-line hasn’t exactly impressed so far. The group allowed four sacks in the team’s 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday and three in the first game against the Houston Texans, and that doesn’t even take into account the constant pressure Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have faced on most dropbacks.

Jones, in particular, struggled to get going, allowing four pressures and two sacks on 42 pass-blocking snaps in those two games, according to Pro Football Focus. The second-year tackle made 11 appearances as a rookie in 2023, allowing 29 pressures and four sacks.

However, all the blame shouldn’t be placed on the defense, as neither Wilson nor Fields have played their best this preseason.

Wilson made 8 of 10 shots in his debut for the Steelers against the Bills after suffering a calf injury during the team’s conditioning test at the start of training camp. After two disappointing seasons with the Denver Broncos, he has a lot to prove before signing a one-year deal in Pittsburgh.

Fields caused a stir while working with the regular players, as Wilson was limited in training, which, however, could not yet be reflected in success in the game.

He dropped the ball twice against the Texans, and although his overall numbers improved against Buffalo, the offense under his helm only managed three points despite playing the entire second half.

That’s where Tannehill comes in. As a member of the Tennessee Titans, he worked in tandem with Smith, who was the team’s offensive coordinator in both 2019 and 2020.

The duo helped Tennessee to back-to-back postseason appearances and an appearance in the AFC Championship Game. Tannehill threw 55 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions in those two seasons, winning the 2019 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Tannehill isn’t quite the same quarterback he was back then. Last season, he threw four touchdowns and seven interceptions and was edged out for the starting job by Will Levis. Still, the 36-year-old has plenty of experience, and his familiarity with Smith could be a big help to the Steelers’ offense.

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