5 significant questions for Steelers on the offensive line

4. Who will be the backup center?

The backup center position isn't nearly as important as the starting left tackle. Still, it's worth considering that the Pittsburgh Steelers were the most fortunate team in the NFL in 2022 when it came to injuries along the offensive line. They are the only team in the league that had the same starting five unit all season long.

That same injury luck certainly cannot be counted on in 2023. Mason Cole is the odds-on favorite to win the starting center role this year, and there doesn't seem to be much real competition here. Last year, J.C. Hassenauer earned the role as the primary backup center and saw a few snaps when Cole got banged up.

Now that Hassenauer signed with the Giants early in the offseason, who will claim this role for Pittsburgh in 2023? Kendrick Green reverted back to center after a short and disappointing stint as a backup guard in 2022. He will likely compete with players like Ryan McCollum, Trevor Downing, and rookie Spencer Anderson for the job behind Cole.

Because of his history as a third-round pick and the fact that he has a full year of starting experience at center under his belt, Green seems like the frontrunner to lock down this role, but that's far from a guarantee. Obviously, we hope that Cole doesn't go down with an injury this year, but the Steelers need to be prepared with the best option if this is to be the case.