Steelers Injury Updates

Steelers Rule Out Center Zach Frazier vs. Jets, Ryan McCollum to Start

Published

3 hours ago

October 15, 2024

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin ruled out rookie center Zach Frazier (left ankle) for Sunday night’s game against the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium. Ryan McCollum will get the start in Frazier’s place.

Frazier did not suffer any structural damage in his injured left ankle and is considered week-to-week, according to a report by Jordan Schultz of Bleacher-Report. Frazier has started all six games this season and has posted an impressive 82.2 Pro Football Focus grade.

Frazier suffered the left ankle injury in Sunday’s 32-12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Frazier was blocking on a run play and got rolled up on. Evan Washburn said on the CBS broadcast that Frazier took some snaps with Russell Wilson on the sideline and wanted to go back in, but the medical staff held him out.

Ryan McCollum replaced Frazier at center. On the first play after Frazier’s injury, Najee Harris rushed for a 36-yard touchdown off the left side on a toss to advance the Steelers’ lead to 22-7.

“It was good,” quarterback Justin Fields said of McCollum’s performance against the Raiders. “I got a lot of reps with Ryan in training camp. So it was pretty normal for me. Just had to make sure I was getting a few snaps from him before he came in. But it was smooth for the most part.”

McCollum will be matched up against Jets defensive tackles Javon Kinlaw and All-Pro Quinnen Williams on Sunday night.

McCollum, 26, first entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M in 2021. As a rookie with the Detroit Lions that year, he played in 13 games and even made one start on offense, all at center.

McCollum spent all of the 2022 season on the Steelers practice squad, was re-signed for 2023, waived at the end of training camp, an then spent all of the 2023 season on the practice squad.

He re-upped for 2024 once again, and entering training camp third on the depth chart at center behind veteran Nate Herbig and Frazier, the team’s second-round rookie. McCollum learned to play guard to make himself more versatile, appearing there in the 2023 and 2024 preseasons.

Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.