The ultimate barometer for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive rebuild arrives in Week 3, anchored squarely in the center of the gridiron.
Second-year center Zach Frazier faces his most formidable challenge yet when Pittsburgh clashes with its AFC North rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals. Coming off a rough Week 2 performance where he surrendered four pressures, Frazier must reset quickly as he prepares to match power with Cincinnati’s game-disrupting nose tackle, Dexter Lawrence.
On a recent crossover episode of “Locked on Steelers,” host Christopher Carter and “Locked on Bengals” guest Joe Goodberry highlighted this interior clash as the defining narrative of the game. For Pittsburgh, it represents a crucial test for the offensive vision established
by general manager Omar Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl.
"I thought last week was maybe Zach Frazier's worst game I've seen from him in the pros," Carter observed. "Gave up four pressures, was getting pushed back a lot. This group has to be stronger. Omar Khan and Andy Weidl, the front office guys, this has been their babies, the offensive line. If this group fails, it is going to have a huge ripple effect across the organization."
Despite Frazier's recent missteps, analysts still view his high-ceiling trajectory as vital to Pittsburgh's front line. Facing a three-time Pro Bowler like Lawrence offers an immediate benchmark.
"I think Zach Frazier is going to be one of our big matchup things, Zach Frazier versus Dexter Lawrence, because I think Frazier is a top-three center in this league," Goodberry emphasized. "Lawrence hasn't seen a very good center [this season]. He beat up on Graham Barton, he beat up on Evan Brown. This is a different test."
If Frazier can hold his ground against Lawrence’s push, he won't just steady Pittsburgh's offense; he will validate the franchise's heavy investment in its trench identity.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Zach Frazier’s matchup with Dexter Lawrence defines Steelers Week 3
