The seven-year veteran was widely regarded as one of the top interior linemen in free agency, with the Dolphins pouncing on his services after struggling mightily up front a season ago. That said, Daniels comes with risk after suffering a torn Achilles in late September of 2024. Daniels has played all three interior linemen positions throughout his career and should be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season.

Daniels exited in the first half of Sunday’s loss and didn’t return to the field. It’s a tough loss for the Steelers, who also lost rookie right tackle Troy Fautanu for the season after he suffered a dislocated knee cap before Week 3’s matchup against the Chargers. Daniels has started all 36 games he’s appeared in for the Steelers since joining them in 2022 and was having a strong season before going down. Guard Spencer Anderson filled in for Daniels following his exit and will presumably takeover at right guard for the Steelers for the foreseeable future.

Daniels has primarily played guard throughout his career including 17 starts at right guard for the Bears last season, but he also has experience at center. Sticking at right guard makes sense with Trai Turner headed to free agency and Mason Cole added to the roster on Monday, but Daniels' versatility will give the Steelers some options as they look to upgrade their line for new starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky. 

He'll miss the remainder of the season. Daniels, Chicago's 2018 second-round pick, has started every game for the Bears this year and the team's last 31 contests since being drafted. Alex Bars, who came in off the bench Thursday and played 31 offensive snaps, is expected to make his first career start in the interim in Week 6 against Carolina. It's obviously an impactful loss for Chicago, which has allowed the league's fourth-most pressures through Week 5.