Time running out for Steelers' third-string quarterback Jones?

The Steelers used a fourth-round pick on quarterback Landry Jones not so he could be groomed to be Ben Roethlisberger's eventual replacement, but more to infuse some much-needed youth into an aging position.

At the time, it made sense.

Charlie Batch was 38, and Byron Leftwich was 32 and coming off shoulder and rib injuries.

Two years later, it's making a lot less sense.

Jones has been inactive for every game since being drafted in 2013 and hasn't advanced enough to beat out veteran Bruce Gradkowski as Roethlisberger's backup.

General manager Kevin Colbert isn't sure Jones ever will.

“Has he progressed to the point where he beat out Bruce as the No. 2? No,” Colbert said. “Maybe he will, maybe he won't. I think when you have young guys, at least they have that chance to grow.”

The Steelers have used mid-round picks before in hopes of finding a young and capable backup to Roethlisberger.

They drafted two other quarterbacks since Roethlisberger became their starter, both in the fifth round. Omar Jacobs was picked in 2006 and Dennis Dixon in 2008.

Neither worked out, and the Steelers moved on.

“If they grow, great. If they don't, then you look for others,” Colbert said.

That's not what you want to hear from a general manager who used a valuable pick on a backup quarterback when the team had gaping holes at a number of other positions.

But the Steelers aren't about to give up on Jones yet.

Gradkowski is in the final year of a three-year deal signed in 2013, and the Steelers would like Jones to be ready to take over the backup job by the end of Gradkowski's contract.

Roethlisberger has been healthy the past two years, starting every game and missing only 10 snaps, but those were the only years of his career that he played in every game.

“We wanted to get a young quarterback in the mix,” Colbert said. “It never hurts to have young depth at every position.

“After those two, Byron and Charlie, were out we put someone in between Ben and Landry. Bruce was young depth. He was 30 years old, I think, when we signed him. He was experienced, but he was young. Landry wasn't ready.”

Jones struggled with his accuracy during his rookie year. He was better during training camp and preseason this past season, but not good enough to supplant Gradkowski.

Switching systems from Oklahoma's shotgun, quick-throw offense to the Steelers' pro style has been a process.

Jones, who threw for 16,646 yards and 123 touchdowns in four years as the Sooners' quarterback, was used to throwing from the shotgun or pistol formation in college.

“It's just a lot,” Jones told Trib Total Media in the spring. “It's totally different. Speed is different. Defenses are different. It is just a lot thrown at you.”

Still, Colbert saw signs of Jones getting better last year. His preseason completion percentage went from 45 to 61 percent, but he threw for only 224 yards in three preseason games and not once led a drive that resulted in a touchdown.

“I think he got better definitely from year one to year two,” Colbert said. “He had more extended play this preseason. I thought there were signs where he did some things better than he did the year before.”

Mark Kaboly is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at mkaboly@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MarkKaboly_Trib.