The Pittsburgh Steelers dealt with another offensive line injury this week. Center Zach Frazier didn’t practice Thursday because of a triceps injury.
However, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo reported Frazier was back at practice Friday.
Officially, Frazier was a limited participant in Friday’s practice session. But he doesn’t have an injury designation.
That means Frazier will be ready to go Sunday when the Steelers visit the Detroit Lions at 4:25 pm ET.
Steelers’ Zach Frazier Returns to Practice on Friday
Frazier has the reputation as one of the toughest players on the Pittsburgh roster. So, it’s not surprising that he will be ready to go Sunday.
As a rookie last season, Frazier missed two contests with an ankle injury. Other than that, he’s always played. Frazier has dressed in every game this season.
The Steelers drafted Frazier at No. 51 overall in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was one of two centers draft pundits linked to Pittsburgh prior to that draft. The other was Jackson Powers-Johnson, who the Raiders drafted just before Frazier went off the board, at No. 44 overall.
Of the 21 centers who have played at least 80% of his team’s offensive snaps, Frazier is ranked with the eighth-best Pro Football Focus player grade. According to PFF, Frazier has excelled at both run and pass blocking.
With Frazier anchoring the Steelers offensive line, Pittsburgh is ranked 28th in rushing yards and yards per carry. While those rankings aren’t pretty, Frazier appears to have built a strong rapport with Rodgers in just one year. As a rookie, Frazier worked with both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.
The Steelers have also improved significantly in pass protection, ranking 10th in sacks allowed, this year.
Frazier Will Play, Questions Remain at LT for Steelers
Frazier staying in the starting lineup is a big deal for the Steelers. The team started No. 4 left tackle option Dylan Cook during Week 15. Although Cook played well, the Steelers don’t also want a backup at center.
Starting left tackle Broderick Jones is on injured reserve and will miss at least one more game. Fellow tackle Andrus Peat has been limited in practice this week and could return.
Peat started at left tackle the first two games Jones missed. Peat sat out last week because of a concussion.
Because Cook played so well in his first NFL start, he could very well be in the lineup again versus the Lions. If Peat can play, he is another option.
The Steelers can remain at least one game ahead of the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North with a victory Sunday. Should they win and the Ravens lose to the New England Patriots, the Steelers would move into a position where they could clinch the division title with a win in Week 17.
The Steelers haven’t lost to the Lions since a controversial overtime defeat on Thanksgiving in 1998. During the overtime coin toss, then Steelers running back Jerome Bettis called “heads” but the referee incorrectly heard “tails” and awarded the Lions the ball to begin overtime after the coin landed on heads.
Detroit kicked the game-winning field goal on the first possession of overtime.
Since then, the Steelers have won five of six against the Lions. In their most recent matchup, the two teams tied, 16-16, during the 2021 campaign.
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