Steelers elevate offensive lineman and punter to active roster for Ravens game

Ryan McCollum will make his in-uniform Pittsburgh Steelers regular-season debut during Sunday’s home game against the Baltimore Ravens.

The interior offensive lineman along with punter Brad Wing were elevated from the practice squad for the game, the team announced Saturday.

The move involving Wing had been expected since Friday when regular punter Pressley Harvin was ruled out of Sunday’s game. Harvin will miss a second consecutive game because of a hamstring injury. Wing appeared in his first NFL game since 2017 when he punted for the Steelers during last week’s loss at the Houston Texans.

McCollum has been part of the organization since August 2022 when he was claimed off waivers from the Detroit Lions, with whom he appeared in 13 games as an undrafted rookie in 2021. McCollum made one start at center that season in addition to coming on for 31 snaps at center in relief of one other.

McCollum had college experience at guard, too, and regularly has taken practice reps for the Steelers at all three spots on the interior offensive line.

The Steelers will be without two starters on the offensive line Sunday: left tackle Dan Moore Jr. (knee) and right guard James Daniels (groin). Rookie tackle Broderick Jones will make his first NFL start, and veteran Nate Herbig will fill in for Daniels for a second consecutive game.

The only other backups available on the Steelers’ 53-man roster were rookie Spencer Anderson and first-year Dylan Cook. NFL rules allow for an extra gameday roster spot, providing a team dresses eight offensive linemen. So, in effect, elevating McCollum is a “free” rostered player for the Ravens game.

Each practice squad player is allotted a maximum of three “call-ups” per season before he must be signed to the 53-man roster.

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