The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2024 season with high hopes for their young and developing offensive line. Even pundits around the league had expected this offensive line to be greatly improved. First-round draft pick Troy Fautanu, a tackle hailed by pundits as a steal, was seen as a major addition despite concerns over his injury history.
Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier work out with the team.
Unfortunately, Fautanu is out for the season due to injury. Isaac Seumalo missed the first four games but has since returned, while Broderick Jones has struggled, and the line hasn't shown the expected improvement. Much of this can be attributed to the injuries and challenges the Steelers have faced on the line.
During Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Steelers suffered another setback when rookie center Zach Frazier left with an ankle injury. Though Frazier didn’t return, he was seen on the sidelines with his helmet, suggesting he could have re-entered if necessary. Fans are anxious but hopeful that Frazier’s injury isn’t serious and that he’ll be available for Week 7. Dan Moore Jr. spoke with the media postgame, offering an optimistic outlook on Frazier’s recovery.
"Hopefully, I'm expecting it to be nothing serious," said Moore when speaking to Joe Rutter about Frazier's injury. "We have a deep group. Ryan [McCollum] came in and was more than capable. We didn't miss a beat."
Frazier has become one of the most pivotal members of the Steelers' offense since being drafted in the second round, filling a critical need for a standout center. So far, he has lived up to the hype, seamlessly transitioning from West Virginia University to the NFL without missing a beat. Frazier has impressed fans with his strong performance early in his rookie season.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Zach Frazier snaps the football during Week 4 against the Colts.
When he went down, every Steelers fan held their breath. This offensive line has already been decimated by injuries, and losing Frazier on top of everything else would present significant adversity. However, Moore expressed confidence that the injury isn’t serious, and he doesn’t expect it to be. If that proves to be true, it would be great news for the Steelers and their passionate fan base.
Ryan McCollum stepped in to handle center duties in place of Frazier. It's unclear whether Frazier didn’t return due to significant pain or if the Steelers felt confident enough in their control of the game to avoid risking his health by keeping him sidelined. Regardless, McCollum performed admirably in Frazier's absence.
The Steelers' offensive line has faced an overwhelming number of injuries this season. Fortunately, current updates on Frazier indicate that his ankle injury is not serious. At least his teammate doesn't seem worried about Frazier's injury.
Steelers' Zach Frazier Did Something Incredibly Tough At WVU
Known for his toughness, Frazier showed immense grit during his last regular-season game in college, where he broke his leg but still managed to bear crawl off the field to give his team a fighting chance. The Mountaineers went on to win that game in dramatic fashion, and without Frazier's determination to get off the field, their odds would have been significantly lower.
Getty Images
Former West Virginia University center Zach Frazier prepares to snap the football during a home collegiate football game.
Frazier is known for his toughness, and Steeler Nation is anxiously hoping he can practice and play in Week 7. More updates will be provided as additional information about his ankle injury, sustained against the Raiders, becomes available.
#SteelerNation
