Pittsburgh Steelers rookie center Zach Frazier will be sidelined through the bye week due to an ankle injury that has left him in a walking boot, according to sources cited by PennLive. He was seen using a rolling scooter at the facility on Wednesday, but the team hopes this will facilitate a swift recovery.
With Frazier unavailable for the upcoming games against the New York Jets and likely the New York Giants, veteran Ryan McCollum will step in as the starter. Head coach Mike Tomlin praised McCollum on Tuesday for his strong communication skills.
“I’ve seen a high-intensity guy who’s a great communicator and very mature for his age, which gives us confidence to maintain our approach as we did last week. We’re excited for the opportunity this presents him. There are always two sides to the injury situation, and I emphasize that to our team,” Tomlin remarked.
This will be McCollum’s first NFL start since 2021, and he will face tough competition from top interior defensive linemen like Quinnen Williams and Dexter Lawrence in consecutive weeks. McCollum has a chance to prove himself during Frazier’s recovery.
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