While center Nate Herbig was out with an injury on Thursday, Zach Frazier, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 second-round pick, was on the first team offensive line and several sports reporters believe he is pushing to be in the starting lineup in Week 1.
Frazier has gained momentum in recent weeks through strong training performances and shone particularly in his preseason debut.
Frazier did not allow a sack or pressure against the Houston Texans and posted the team’s best run-blocking grade (72.2) and a solid pass-blocking grade of 73.0 in the game, according to Pro Football Focus.
Herbig, on the other hand, stood out for all the wrong reasons. He had two bad exchanges with quarterback Justin Fields that resulted in two fumbles, and Herbig also struggled with run blocking, posting a lackluster grade of 58.4.
“I’m pleased with their effort, but I can’t ignore that fundamental component of evaluation,” head coach Mike Tomlin said of the snap issues, according to Yardbarker’s Aaron Becker. “We have to give 1,000 percent on the (quarterback-center) turnovers. That’s just the standard in professional baseball.”
Not only was Frazier used in the first team during training on Thursday due to Herbig’s injury, he also played well, says Mike DeFabo of The Athletic and is convinced that the rookie has a good chance of a place in the starting lineup.
The Steelers’ second-round pick showed he was ready to step up – and it didn’t take long. In the very first 11-on-11 game against the Bills’ starters, Frazier and guard Isaac Seumalo opened up a gaping hole. Najee Harris hit hard and made it into the end zone, which was one of the first highlights.
Later in the same period, Frazier and Seumalo worked together to open another lane, and Frazier capped off the play with an exclamation point by throwing the Bills lineman to the turf.
If Herbig’s injury keeps him out of the field during the second week of preseason, it will open up the opportunity for Frazier to play on the first team. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes this could open up the opportunity for the West Virginia product to earn a starting position.
“But if (Herbig doesn’t play), that opens the door for Zach Frazier, who was very impressive in the first game,” Dulac said on the North Shore Drive podcast. That gives (the Steelers) an opportunity to see him against other first-team players, rather than second- and third-team players, like he did the other day against the Texans.
“So if he performs as well in this game and against the (Dallas Cowboys’) regulars as he did last week, then it won’t be a surprise in Atlanta if Zach Frazier is in the starting lineup at center.”
Of course, it was assumed from the beginning that Frazier would be in the starting lineup in his first season, it was just not clear when that would happen.
After a slow start in training camp, it looked like Frazier needed more time. But the rookie has clearly changed his trajectory drastically over the past two weeks and is now in good position to be a starter in Week 1.
