The position of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ backup center is in upheaval following Nate Herbig’s season-ending injury. While it is generally assumed that Mason McCormick and Spencer Anderson will take over the backup duties behind Zach Frazier, the experienced Ryan McCollum is still firmly in the running.
Anderson didn’t play a single snap at center in the final game of the season, making it difficult to truly view him as someone who can fill that role. McCormick played nine snaps against the Detroit Lions on Saturday, all with Pittsburgh’s third-string offense and against Detroit’s backups. While McCormick has been solid, only nine snaps in the preseason against backups after playing just 15 snaps at the position during his entire college career makes it difficult to assess him as a viable backup option.
A move outside the organization is a possibility, and on Tuesday, release day, the Steelers could be looking for someone released to take over the position. But McCollum is an interesting option, someone the Steelers like enough to keep him on their practice squad and sign him to a futures contract. Against the Lions, he got the bulk of the work as a backup center, playing 17 snaps, second most on the team behind Frazier’s 20 snaps.
McCollum is the most experienced center on the roster. Since 2021, he has played 200 snaps at the position in the preseason with the Houston Texans. He also played 100 snaps in the regular season with the Detroit Lions in 2021. Add to that 785 snaps as a center during his career at Texas A&M, and he’s at least someone who can be trusted to hold down the position.
I think looking outside the organization is the most likely option. I also wouldn’t be surprised if the team tried McCormick as a backup. But McCormick will also be the primary backup at both guard positions, and if the Steelers are hit with injuries at that position and McCormick is forced into action, they will have no one to rely on at the center position.
It’s a risky proposition if they play with McCormick, and that could free up room for McCollum on the roster. He’s done well as a pass blocker and performed well, too, with a 79.0 pass blocking rating from Pro Football Focus, though his run blocking only received an overall rating of 59.3. But he’s experienced and reliable in the sense that he’s proven he can handle the demands of the center position.
We’ll find out what ultimately happens on Tuesday, but I wouldn’t rule out McCollum ending up on the 53-man roster.
