2nd-year Steelers OL Spencer Anderson takes on double duty as guard on 1st, 2nd team offenses

Spencer Anderson didn’t look any worse for the wear. But by one measure he certainly had more cause to combat exhaustion after Wednesday’s training-camp practice than any of the more than seven dozen Pittsburgh Steelers players who took part in it.

“Did anyone take more reps than me today? No,” Anderson said, matter-of-factly answering a question. “(Veteran guard James Daniels) was telling me today, ‘Just embrace it. You’re doing what nobody else is doing, so just look at it that way.’

“They get it if you might be tired here and there. But at the end of the day you’re getting more work in.”

A second-year offensive lineman, Anderson’s status as a projected top reserve on the regular-season 53-man roster was cemented over recent practices when coach Mike Tomlin gave starting guards Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels (to varying degrees) “veterans days” off.

Wednesday, Anderson served as the first-team left guard with Seumalo not taking part in any team drills. But the Steelers also worked rookie Mason McCormick into that spot — yet when they did, Anderson moved over to right guard with the first team to give Daniels a blow.

All the while, Anderson held on to his gig as the second-team’s right guard.

“Just trying to take advantage of my opportunities,” Anderson said. “Obviously, it’s always a challenge being with the 1s and 2s, but trying to take advantage of the opportunity.”

Spencer Anderson, a G/OT/C/TE last year, is now a guard:https://t.co/EC3tJ6MBJB

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) June 13, 2024

The opportunity in front of Anderson is to serve as a top swing interior backup of a line that returned all five starters from the end of last season and added three rookies selected in the top half of the draft in tackle Troy Fautanu, center Zach Frazier and McCormick.

Frazier is slotting behind veteran Nate Herbig at center. But if Herbig doesn’t win the job for the regular season, it’s at least possible the Steelers could choose to save $4 million by releasing him. They wouldn’t do that if they did not believe Anderson could handle top-backup duties.

Daniels is expected to depart via free agency in March, and Seumalo is signed through 2025. Anderson is being given a chance to state his case he should be under consideration for a starting gig — be it opposite of McCormick or maybe even in lieu of him.

Not bad for a 2023 seventh-round pick. As a rookie, Anderson made the team and stayed on the active roster all season in large part because he could play all five positions.

This spring, though, coach Mike Tomlin told him they would make him focus on being a guard.

Anderson said he has not taken any reps at tackle while at Saint Vincent. His individual work on snapping has dwindled to brief, every-other-day stints, alternating days with McCormick.

But Anderson’s 2024 priority is left and right guard.

“Guard is guard to me,” Anderson said. “I know some guys have a problem (switching sides) but even talking to Isaac, he has played all positions and will tell you that guard is guard. It’s kind of the same thing — just flip your feet. As far as preference it doesn’t really matter to me — I would say ‘right’ because I have played it more. But left is always fine with me.

“I’m cool with sticking at guard if that’s what Coach T wants me to emphasize. But if they need me at tackle or center, I take pride I can do that too.”