BALTIMORE — Spencer Anderson will make his first career playoff start and fourth start in any meaningful NFL game as an offensive lineman in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wild-card round postseason opener Saturday night.
Anderson will be at right guard in place of rookie Mason McCormick, who will not play against the Baltimore Ravens. McCormick suffered a broken left hand late during last week’s regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. Anderson, a second-year pro, replaced him that night and was the next man up to start at right guard.
Anderson started the first three games of this regular season at left guard in place of then-injured veteran Isaaac Seumalo. But McCormick, a fourth-round pick, surpassed Anderson on the depth chart in Week 4. Seumalo returned the next week, but former veteran starting right guard James Daniels suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the Week 4 loss at the Indianapolis Colts.
Anderson, who can play all five positions along the offensive line, has said he feels most comfortable at right guard. He took some spot duty this season as a “jumbo” extra tight end.
Trice scratched
A surprise healthy inactive against the Ravens was cornerback Cory Trice, who had played extensively at outside cornerback during each of the final three games of the regular season. That, however, came when starting outside corners Donte Jackson (back) and Joey Porter Jr. (knee) were missing because of injury. Jackson returned for Saturday’s game after missing two of the previous three games.
A pair of front-seven veterans were healthy scratches: outside linebacker Preston Smith and defensive lineman Dean Lowry. So were a pair of veteran players who earlier Saturday were announced as call-ups from the practice squad: receiver Scotty Miller and return specialize Jamal Agnew.
Kyle Allen fulfilled the role as “emergency” No. 3 QB.
No Flowers
As had been announced Thursday, the Ravens were without No. 1 wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee injury).
Baltimore’s healthy scratches were safety Beau Brade, running back Rasheen Ali, former Penn State outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, center Nick Samac and receiver Keith Kirkwood.
