The Pittsburgh Steelers have managed well over the past two weeks with several backups starting on their offensive line, but they could see a boost with the potential return of rookie center Zach Frazier after the bye week.
Frazier expressed optimism to TribLive.com’s Tim Benz about rejoining the lineup on November 10 for the game against the Washington Commanders. “That’s what I’m aiming for,” he said on October 30. He plans to stay in Pittsburgh for rehab this week and is focused on returning for the Washington game. “I’m improving every day and trusting the rehab… I think I’ll be ready,” he added.
Frazier hasn’t played since Week 6 when he left the game against the Las Vegas Raiders due to an ankle injury.
**Frazier Aiming for Week 10 Return**
Having already missed two games, Frazier’s situation could have been worse. He told The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo that the plate in his ankle from a prior college injury prevented a complete fracture. Had that occurred, he would have missed the remainder of his rookie season.
Fortunately, he has avoided injured reserve, partly due to timing. With the bye week coming up soon after his injury, the team deemed it unnecessary to place him on IR, which would have required a minimum four-game absence.
Frazier initially wore a walking boot after the injury but was able to remove it before the team faced the New York Giants in Week 8. He was having a strong rookie season prior to the injury, ranking as the No. 3 center in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus.
**McCollum Performing Well in Frazier’s Absence**
The Steelers are eager to have Frazier back, but the coaching staff may not feel pressured to rush his return. That’s because former undrafted free agent Ryan McCollum has been performing well at center. Head coach Mike Tomlin praised McCollum’s efforts after the win against the Giants in Week 8, highlighting his role in the running game.
With McCollum as center, the Steelers have averaged 158 rushing yards and 5.5 yards per carry over the past two weeks. The team has generally excelled on the ground this season, failing to reach 100 rushing yards in only one game.
While quarterback Justin Fields contributed to the rushing totals in the first six games, McCollum has enabled running back Najee Harris to surpass 100 yards in each of the last two games. Given McCollum’s strong performance, the Steelers can afford to wait until Frazier is fully ready before bringing him back onto the field.
