'Had Some Butterflies!' Frazier Reacts to Steelers Debut

The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t make a habit of handing starting jobs to rookies. But after a strong summer camp and an injury to veteran lineman Nate Herbig, Frazier was presented with an opportunity.

He didn’t let it go to waste.

Frazier, as a pro-ready prospect and second-round pick, was largely expected to take the job and run with it. So far, so good. His ability to make calls at the line of scrimmage, play with technique beyond his years, and do so with a strong athletic profile has earned him praise from teammates, coaches, and analysts alike.

His first snap didn’t go as planned.

“I definitely had some butterflies,” Frazier said, via The Athletic . “It’s everything you dreamed about as a kid to go out there for that first snap… Of course, first snap was fumbled.”

The rest of his day, though, went well. Pittsburgh would win 18-10 over the hosting Atlanta Falcons. Frazier earned the sixth highest offensive grade on the team, via Pro Football Focus, and did not allow a pressure.

He also caught the attention of head coach Mike Tomlin.

“I’m appreciative of the efforts and demeanor of a guy like Spencer [Anderson], of a guy like Zach Frazier, who are in stadiums in a starting capacity for the first time,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “There’s definitely a lot of positive things to build on. I like their attitude and demeanor and finish. We’ll keep working on the fine details.”

Frazier’s intangibles stood out to quarterback Russell Wilson before his calf injury sidelined him for the start of the regular season. His work with the second-team unit undoubtedly helped clean up the operation between himself and Justin Fields, who started in Wilson’s place.

Now, with Fields likely behind him again, he’ll take his talents to Mile High for a Week 2 clash with the Denver Broncos .

Related: No Revenge for Russ: Steelers 'Preparing' To Start Fields vs. Broncos

Frazier’s game has “long-term starter” written all over it, and with few legitimate threats for his job, it’s his to lose. In a league with so few quality offensive lineman, his immediate ascension is a quiet ingredient in the success the Steelers expect to have.

The Pittsburgh faithful may get to double-dip in exciting debuts if rookie right tackle Troy Fautanu joins him on the offensive line for Sunday’s contest. A strong showing would bode well for the confidence of a revamped unit that will get its fair share of dominant opponents by season’s end.