Steelers Rookie Mason McCormick Wasn't Scared To Start Brawl With Elandon Roberts

Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 training camp at Saint Vincent College has been eventful to say the least. With Russell Wilson's calf injury limiting him, Justin Fields has been reaping the benefits. With Fields being a threat not only through the air, but also on the ground, it was only time before one of the defensive players accidentally laid a hit on him past the line of scrimmage.

Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts was the first man to take down Fields. That ended up causing a scuffle to ensue that involved rookie linemen Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick. Linemen do not like it when their quarterbacks get hit, especially at practice. The brawl did not last long, as cooler heads pulled players apart. 

When asked about the dust up with Roberts, McCormick told media that it is the linemen's job to protect the quarterback and there aren't any hard feelings between him and his teammates.

"I mean that's what we get paid to do, protect the quarterback. Whatever it takes, and what E-Rob did, I think it was accidentally, and we move on and it is what is. We are going to protect the quarterback always and there is no love lost or anything like that, we are all cool."

There is no need to overreact to a training camp fight; they are common throughout the league. The Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys are just a few teams that had their camp scuffles posted all over social media. As McCormick said, there aren't hard feelings between him and the defense, but he has to stick up for his quarterback; it's plain and simple.

McCormick, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Steelers, has had plenty of opportunities to protect Fields with Isaac Seumalo sitting out for a few practices (Mike Tomlin told media that he will give veterans days off since the younger guys needs more reps). 

McCormick will most likely not see much time on the field this upcoming season with Seumalo and James Daniels both starting, but injuries can always happen and he is trying to show the coaching staff that he can step up if they need him to.

McCormick, who played at South Dakota State, played 70 games and broke the school's record for most consecutive starts with 57 games. He was named First-Team FCS All-American by the Associated Press in both 2022 and 2023, won the Phil Steele FCS Offensive Lineman of the Year Award in 2023, and was the Jackrabbits' team captain from 2021 through 2023.

With Daniels' contract ending after the 2024 season, it doesn't seem like a new deal is on the table for him, especially after the Steelers drafted McCormick in the fourth. McCormick has been getting a good amount of reps at right guard, especially during rookie camp, possibly to give him a year to get use to the opposite side of the line and plug him into the the position in 2025.

McCormick's mentality is just what the Steelers needed on the offensive line. Through the Matt Canada era, the line just didn't have the aggressive nature to protect their quarterback or open up holes for the running backs. There is hope that these young offensive linemen bring back the aggression and, so far into training camp, the rookies have not disappointed.

Steelers' Rookies Are Certainly Ready For The NFL

In most scenarios, rookies need a long adjustment period when they come into the league and may even be afraid to step up to veterans. The Steelers rookies are showing that isn't the case with them as they had no issues for sticking up for their quarterback when they could have easily let one of the offensive veterans go after Roberts. 

It seems that these rookies have the right mindset, but will they be ready to show that they are NFL ready by Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons? Let us know in the comments.

#SteelerNation