Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Mason McCormick has made his NFL debut, changing Spencer Anderson at left guard for the group’s next-to-last drive of the primary half. It’s unclear why the change was made. To this point, there’s been no announcement that Anderson is injured. The group might be searching for a run sport spark after struggling to maneuver the ball on the bottom all through the primary half.
Anderson began his third sport rather than Isaac Seumalo, nonetheless out with a pectoral harm suffered in follow earlier than the season started. However an absence of energy within the operating sport has constantly been on show and McCormick is greater, stronger, and nastier than Anderson.
McCormick was the third offensive lineman the Steelers drafted this yr, additionally taking OT Troy Fautanu and C Zach Frazier. Fautanu is on injured reserve attributable to a knee harm whereas Frazier has completed effectively because the group’s beginning middle.
To this point, Pittsburgh has struggled to win the road of scrimmage. Throughout the group’s first 4 drives, they’ve run the ball 9 instances for under 14 yards. QB Justin Fields is the Steelers’ main rusher with 8 yards, together with the group’s first speeding rating of the season.
RB Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren have been bottled up by a bodily and hard-hitting Chargers protection. Harris has 4 carries for 3 yards whereas Warren has one rush for 3 yards. It’s antithetical to how the Steelers are designed to win, needing a wholesome and regular operating sport as a way to discover offensive success.
We’ll see if the Steelers select to rotate Mason McCormick and Spencer Anderson the remainder of the way in which or if McCormick will end the sport at left guard. Pittsburgh has completed loads of shuffling with its offensive line already this season. McCormick is the seventh lineman to play this yr.
UPDATE (2:34 PM): McCormick stayed on the sector for the group’s ultimate drive of the primary half. He was used as a sixth offensive lineman on the primary play of the second half, however Anderson got here in to play left guard.
Replace (2:48 PM): McCormick is in for a full sequence within the second half, signaling a rotation between him and Anderson.
Seumalo might return for the group’s Week 4 sport in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts although he’s but to follow since getting harm.