Steelers Elevate Versatile Lineman from Practice Squad

The Steelers will elevate versatile offensive lineman Ryan McCollum from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s game against the Ravens, the team announced on Saturday. Pittsburgh will be missing starting right guard James Daniels and left tackle Dan Moore Jr. due to injuries. With McCollum coming up, the team will have eight offensive linemen dressed, with the inactive list expected to include injured regulars.

Pittsburgh released McCollum during final cut-downs, but he rejoined the team after their Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.  McCollum is Pittsburgh’s center-capable player on the practice squad, with tackles Kellen Diesch, Obinna Eze, and guard Joey Fisher.

Pittsburgh claimed McCollum off waivers a year ago during training when the Detroit Lions released him. They would subsequently rerelease him before the start of the season, but he spent the entire year on the practice squad, signing a futures contract at the end of the year to come back with the team. During training camp and the preseason, he started out running as the third-team center, but the team started moving him around to right and left guard so guys like Nate Herbig and Spencer Anderson could get experience at center.

McCollum was undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2021, signed with the Houston Texans, and made it onto their practice squad. McCollum was signed from the Texans practice squad by the Detroit Lions last October. Throughout the rest of the season, McCollum remained on Detroit’s active roster. He played in 13 games and made one start against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 12. He also saw significant playing time against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 9.

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound center was a four-year starter for the Aggies, becoming captain for the team in five games during the 2020 season as a critical member of their offensive line.