Matt Feiler practices, Chuks Okorafor gets 1st-team reps for Steelers

Forty-eight hours before kickoff in Denver, there was mystery over who would start at right tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Broncos.

The only certainty seems to be that starter Marcus Gilbert will not. The veteran again missed an entire week’s worth of practice because of a knee injury.

But unlike the past four games, when Matt Feiler started in Gilbert’s place, rookie Chuks Okorafor has been taking first-team reps at right tackle.

Feiler (pectoral injury) practiced Friday but did not take first-team reps. Okorafor, a third-round pick who has never started an NFL game, did for the third consecutive day.

“We will see what is going to happen,” Okorafor said Friday. “If Matt is to play, I will be ready. If not, I will be ready either way.”

On the Steelers’ official injury report, Feiler is listed as questionable against the Broncos.

Feiler suffered his injury during the final offensive drive of Sunday’s win at Jacksonville (contrary to speculation, Feiler’s injury did not occur during Ben Roethlisberger’s winning touchdown dive). He did not practice Wednesday and was a limited participant Thursday, according to the Steelers’ official injury report. Feiler said he “got all the reps I needed” Friday.

Enough reps that he will be able to play?

“I am feeling confident,” Feiler said. “It feels good. So we will see.”

What has Feiler been told about his status?

“Don’t know. We will have to talk to coach and see what happens.”

Is it a question of pain tolerance, affecting range of motion or something else?

“It was just more of a precaution-type of thing that I just didn’t want to get any worse.”

The Steelers have won all five of Feiler’s starts this season; they are averaging 31.6 points and have allowed only eight sacks in those five games. Pro Football Focus has graded Feiler better than Gilbert this season.

Okorafor’s NFL regular-season action has come as a tight end/extra tackle. He took extensive first-team reps during training camp when one of the two starting tackles (Gilbert and Alejandro Villanueva) was not practicing.

“I feel very comfortable, getting better,” said Okorafor, who played at Western Michigan.

“It doesn’t really matter if you are first-round pick or you undrafted or raw, as soon you get in that (position) room you are expected to work and just do your best every play.”

One of the NFL’s youngest players at 21, Okorafor acknowledged some emotions associated with perhaps getting his first start in the league.

“But at the same time, it’s not really a big deal to me,” he said. “Just doing what I have been doing since college and high school — so it’s not really a big deal.”

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Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris at cadamski@tribweb.com or via Twitter @C_AdamskiTrib.