PITTSBURGH — Ryan McCollum breathlessly answered some questions, then threw on his “Girl Dad” hat and hustled to his next meeting.

As much as he has vowed to stay ready throughout his NFL career, the Steelers’ new starting center — at least until rookie Zach Frazier is back healthy — is a bit busier these days. What if someone would’ve told him he’d go from third-string center in training camp to snapping to Russell Wilson against the Jets on “Sunday Night Football” by Week 7?

“Hell yeah, let’s ride,” McCollum said Wednesday after practice, his first with the starting offense.

He probably didn’t mean that as a nod to Wilson’s much-ridiculed Broncos catchphrase amid his first miserable season in Denver, but McCollum almost certainly will have a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and likely Hall of Famer behind him in his first Steelers start. During the individual drills at the start of practice, which is open for photos or videos, Wilson was the first quarterback in line ahead of Justin Fields, and tackle Dan Moore Jr. acknowledged that “it was good getting him in first-team reps” Wednesday.

Wilson’s debut is the headliner, but McCollum stepping in for Frazier is the footnote. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Texas A&M product who went undrafted in 2021 bounced around a few practice squads but has been with the Steelers in that capacity since 2022. He probably would’ve been on the outside looking in for the 53-man roster out of preseason for the third year in a row if not for a shoulder injury to Nate Herbig.

“No doubt, I’ve always had faith in myself,” said McCollum, who played 19 snaps in finishing out the win against the Raiders after Frazier went down. “I think that’s really important in life. I’ll be the first to tell you I’m my biggest critic, but I’ve always believed I could play in this league. Now it’s time to go show it.”

So far, McCollum’s best chance to show it came in his rookie year, two months after he signed with the Lions for center depth. He entered the starting lineup in Week 14 and Detroit lost to the Broncos, 38-10, in Denver.

McCollum was tagged for one sack allowed by Pro Football Focus and was penalized once (for holding) then went back to the bench a week later when the backup who was filling in for injured starter Frank Ragnow returned. But the Lions did average 5.6 yards per carry in that loss, and he’s made enough of an impression on the Steelers to keep sticking around and get his break.

“I don't necessarily think it has anything to do with him being here a couple years. I think it’s more so just the work that he’s put in,” said Moore, his college linemate at Texas A&M. “I think he’s earned the right to get his opportunity. I think he’ll run with it, for sure.”

Moore called McCollum “a really good leader” and “a vocal guy” from what he’s seen in training camp and preseason games. As for the on-field work, Moore pointed to McCollum “finishing a guy downfield” on the 36-yard touchdown run by Najee Harris. Much like Frazier, Moore noted that McCollum is “gritty” in the way offensive coordinator Arthur Smith — a college center himself — likes his linemen.

McCollum wanted to make himself particularly loud in Wednesday’s session and ensure everyone was on the same page. He was about to go watch the tape of their work, but as far as he could tell in the moment, it was a clean day.

“Now you’ve just got to block ’em,” he said. “Schematics is the easy part. Now you’ve gotta block it.”

That’s what he’ll aim to do Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium against a Jets front that includes one of the best defensive tackles in the league in Quinnen Williams. The third overall pick in 2019 is a dancing bear at 6-3, 303 pounds and has 35 sacks from the interior since breaking out in 2020.

McCollum has never made an All-Pro team like Williams and perhaps he never will. But for as long as Frazier is out, he’ll try to prove himself in prime time. And while his 16-month-old daughter won’t quite understand what’s happening, this is a big week for the McCollum family.

“She’ll get it eventually,” he said with a smile as he rushed off to the film room. “She definitely knows who dada is. She’ll see those pictures in a few years.”

Injury report

Not practicing Wednesday in addition to Frazier were No. 1 running back Najee Harris (ribs), backup Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle), outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring) and safety Damontae Kazee (ankle). Only Herbig was ruled out Tuesday by Tomlin and Harris was a surprise, but it’s likely precautionary after a tough Sunday of running in Las Vegas.

Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) was listed as limited, as Tomlin is optimistic about his return following a three-game absence.

Backup tight end MyCole Pruitt (knee) was a full participant and should be good to go against the Jets.

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