In the past two NFL Draft classes, the Pittsburgh Steelers have used five of 14 picks to address the offensive line.

When the regular season opens Sept. 8 in Atlanta, all five of those prospects could be starting or playing supporting roles.

The Steelers surely didn’t script it that way — for so many young players to be featured in the season opener — when they selected three linemen this year after drafting two in 2023.

But with injuries hitting the offensive line at an alarming rate in August, the Steelers are preparing to count on contributions from their least experienced linemen. Zach Frazier, the second-round pick from West Virginia, is set to start at center as a rookie. He could be flanked on his left side by Spencer Anderson, a seventh-round pick in 2023, or Mason McCormick, a fourth-round selection in April.

Broderick Jones, the team’s first-round pick a year ago, is scheduled to start at right tackle, the spot where he started the final 10 games of his rookie season. Jones, though, could move to left tackle — or compete with Dan Moore Jr. for the job — if this year’s top pick, Troy Fautanu, is considered a viable option at right tackle.

“They are here for a reason,” offensive line coach Pat Meyer said, addressing the 2024 draft class of Fautanu, Frazier and McCormick. “We did not bring them in here to not play football.”

Meyer uttered those words a week ago before left guard Isaac Seumalo sustained a pectoral injury that could keep him out of the lineup for several weeks. Seumalo’s injury will force the Steelers to start either Anderson, who played only two offensive snaps as a rookie, or McCormick, a former Division I FCS player.

Anderson or McCormick will flank Frazier, who was elevated to the starting center role when Nate Herbig was lost to a season-ending shoulder injury on the final day of training camp. That guarantees two linemen will make their NFL starting debut when the Steelers open against the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Fautanu could be the third. Before sustaining a knee injury in the first half of the preseason opener, he was on track to compete for the starting job at right tackle. He missed the final two preseason games, but he said he will return to practice Monday when the Steelers begin preparing for the Falcons.

“I’m sure they are going to have growing pains, but that’s all part of growing up,” Meyer said. “That’s part of playing football in this league, growing up and learning from that. If they get thrown into the fire that early, great. That is the reason why they are here. We had so much optimism in getting those guys here that we thought they could play and contribute.”

The Steelers, though, could be inclined to keep Jones on the right side of the line, which would give them two experienced tackles for the season opener. For all the promise Fautanu showed in camp, he was credited with allowing a sack and two pressures in 12 pass-blocking snaps in the preseason opener.

“A lot of these guys have game experience that I don’t really have, so it’s just making sure I’m taking things from them and applying it to what I do at whatever position they put me in Week 1 going forward,” Fautanu said.

Barring another injury, the only veteran assured of suiting up and starting against the Falcons is right guard James Daniels, who is entering his third season with the Steelers and seventh in the NFL. He has started 80 games. Elsewhere on the line, Moore has started 49 and Jones 11, including one last year at left tackle.

A veteran could be brought in for reinforcements if Seumalo’s injury requires a stint on short-term injured reserve.

The Steelers kept nine linemen on the 53-man roster. Joining Anderson and McCormick on the interior is Ryan McCollum, the backup center who started one game and appeared in 13 with the Detroit Lions in 2021.

“We’ve grown as a collective,” Jones said, speaking before Seumalo got hurt. “It’s been great. Other than a couple injuries to a couple players, everything has been good. We try to step outside football sometimes. We do O-line dinners together on Thursday nights. With the season starting up, that is about to pick back up. I feel like that’s a good thing for us to get out and get to know each other on a deeper level. It’s building that connection and bond together.”

Given the number of injuries on the line, the biggest issue at the next bonding dinner might be how many players will be healthy enough to lift a fork.

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