The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line has had a chaotic first seven weeks, cycling through six different combinations. While this constant change isn’t ideal, there’s a silver lining: we’ve gotten a good look at the roster’s depth, and some young players are stepping up in a big way.

The chaos began before the season even kicked off when projected starting center Nate Herbig suffered a season-ending injury. Then, left guard Isaac Seumalo went down with a pectoral injury, sidelining him for the first four weeks. In his absence, second-year player Spencer Anderson and rookie Mason McCormick had to split the duties at left guard while Seumalo recovered.

With Herbig out, rookie Zach Frazier was thrust into the starting center role. From Week 1, Frazier looked like he belonged, quickly establishing himself as one of the best players on the line and one of the top rookies in the NFL. It looks like the Steelers may have found their long-term solution at center.

The 2024 NFL Draft also brought in first-round tackle Troy Fautanu, who impressed in training camp and was expected to start at right tackle. However, a preseason injury delayed his debut until Week 2 against the Broncos. Initially, Coach Mike Tomlin rotated Fautanu with Broderick Jones, but Fautanu’s solid play, combined with Jones’ struggles, led to Fautanu taking most of the snaps. Unfortunately, a knee injury during practice before the Week 3 matchup with the LA Chargers ended Fautanu’s season early, putting Jones back in the lineup.

The injuries didn’t stop there. Right guard James Daniels tore his Achilles in Week 4 against the Colts, ending his season as well. Once again, Anderson and McCormick stepped in at guard, doing their best to keep the line steady.

Seumalo finally returned in Week 5 against the Cowboys, joining a lineup of Dan Moore Jr., Seumalo, Frazier, McCormick, and Jones. In Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Steelers started the same five players for the first time all season, giving the team some much-needed consistency. But that stability didn’t last long—rookie standout Zach Frazier went down with an ankle injury during the game. Ryan McCollum stepped in for Frazier and held his own, even earning the start the following week against the New York Jets, marking the sixth different offensive line combination in seven weeks.

Despite all the injuries and changes, the Steelers boast a 5-2 record, and their offense has scored 30+ points in two straight games. Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick, both 2024 draft picks, are emerging as future stars. While losing key players like Herbig, Fautanu, and Daniels has been tough, Frazier’s return is on the horizon, and McCormick continues to play impressive football.

Steelers GM Omar Khan and assistant Andy Weidl deserve a lot of credit for building a deep offensive line. The injuries have been brutal, but the team’s resilience and the emergence of these young players offer plenty of hope for the future.

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