Steelers roster spotlight: Can Ryan McCollum secure a backup role?
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Steelers roster spotlight: Can Ryan McCollum secure a backup role?
Andrew Vasquez, Steelers Wire·Steelers Wire
·
1 min read
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With roster cutdown day looming,Pittsburgh SteelerscenterRyan McCollum's backup job may be in jeopardy as the team scrambles to cram as much talent as possible into a53-man squad.
From now until the start of the regular season, we atSteelersWire will be analyzing every player on the roster. Here's a look at McCollum and what could be in store for his 2026 season.
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At a glance
Height:6-foot-5
Weight:300 pounds
Age:28 years old
NFL experience:4
Week 1:Sunday, Sept. 13, vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brett Davis, Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
Week 2:Sunday, Sept. 20, at New England Patriots, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brian Fluharty, Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)
Week 3:Sunday, Sept. 27, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
Week 4:Thursday Night Football, Oct. 1, at Cleveland Browns, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
Week 5:Sunday, Oct. 11, vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
Week 6:Sunday, Oct. 18, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Barry Reeger, Barry Reeger-Imagn Images)
Week 7:Sunday, Oct. 25, at New Orleans Saints, 9:30 a.m. ET (Paris)
(SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network, SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network)
Week 8:Sunday, Nov. 1, vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Jeff Lange, Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Week 9:Bye week
(Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)
Week 10:Sunday Night Football, Nov. 15, at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer, Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Week 11:Sunday, Nov. 22, at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
Week 12:Friday, Nov. 27, vs. Denver Broncos, 3:00 p.m. ET (Black Friday Game)
(Ron Chenoy, Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
Week 13:Sunday Night Football, Dec. 6, vs. Houston Texans, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
Week 14:Monday Night Football, Dec. 14, at Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union)
Week 15:Sunday, Dec. 20, vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
Week 16:TBD, vs. Carolina Panthers, TBD
(Allison Lawhon, Imagn Images)
Week 17:Sunday, Jan. 3, at Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Philip G. Pavely, Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports)
Week 18:TBD, at Baltimore Ravens, TBD
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
1/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 1:Sunday, Sept. 13, vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brett Davis, Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
1/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 1:Sunday, Sept. 13, vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brett Davis, Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
2/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 2:Sunday, Sept. 20, at New England Patriots, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brian Fluharty, Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)
3/18
Steelers experimenting with new position for massive tight end Darnell Washington
Week 3:Sunday, Sept. 27, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
4/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 4:Thursday Night Football, Oct. 1, at Cleveland Browns, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
5/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 5:Sunday, Oct. 11, vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
6/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 6:Sunday, Oct. 18, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Barry Reeger, Barry Reeger-Imagn Images)
7/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 7:Sunday, Oct. 25, at New Orleans Saints, 9:30 a.m. ET (Paris)
(SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network, SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network)
8/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 8:Sunday, Nov. 1, vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Jeff Lange, Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
9/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 9:Bye week
(Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)
10/18
Takeaways from the Steelers 2026 regular-season schedule release
Week 10:Sunday Night Football, Nov. 15, at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer, Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
11/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 11:Sunday, Nov. 22, at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
12/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 12:Friday, Nov. 27, vs. Denver Broncos, 3:00 p.m. ET (Black Friday Game)
(Ron Chenoy, Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
13/18
Former Steelers linebacker returns to Pittsburgh after UFL breakout
Week 13:Sunday Night Football, Dec. 6, vs. Houston Texans, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
14/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 14:Monday Night Football, Dec. 14, at Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union)
15/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 15:Sunday, Dec. 20, vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
16/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 16:TBD, vs. Carolina Panthers, TBD
(Allison Lawhon, Imagn Images)
17/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 17:Sunday, Jan. 3, at Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Philip G. Pavely, Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports)
18/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 18:TBD, at Baltimore Ravens, TBD
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
Career with the Steelers
McCollum, who began his career with theHouston Texans(2021) andDetroit Lions(2021), was claimed off waivers by the Steelers and signed to the practice squad in August 2022. He signed a reserve/future contract with Pittsburgh twice and eventually earned a spot on the initial 53-man roster in August 2024.
Since 2024, McCollum has appeared in 34 games for the Steelers and made three starts. He provided vital depth behind starting centerZach Frazier, but that could soon change depending on how the final roster cuts play out.
What's next in 2026?
McCollum could seeBrock Hoffmanusurp his role as backup center and, consequently, his spot on the 53-man roster. The Steelers are strapped for roster space and have some very important decisions to make, one of which could be trusting in the versatility of Hoffman, who is capable of starting games at both guard and center, over McCollum.
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