PITTSBURGH — Driving across the Fort Pitt Bridge as he heads to work each day at Heinz Field brings a smile to the face of Stefen Wisniewski.
It reminds him of his daily commute to Central Catholic more than a decade ago. The South Fayette native would pass through the Fort Pitt tunnel and admire the Pittsburgh Steelers stadium before bearing right and continuing to Oakland for class.
“The fact that that is my commute to Heinz Field right now is pretty awesome,” said Wisniewski, the Steelers’ 31-year-old guard/center. “The fact I get to do this in my home city and play for the Steelers is pretty awesome. Just practicing at Heinz Field is cool and making it feel more real that I’m a Steeler.”
Like any kid, Wisniewski dreamed of one day playing for his hometown team. It was one reason the 10th-year NFL veteran signed a two-year contract with the Steelers in March.
And Wisniewski still hopes to “play” for the Steelers even though the team’s plan is for him to be the top interior backup at the outset of the season.
Wisniewski was told when he signed March 26 that he would compete for the starting left guard job created by Ramon Foster’s retirement. That, of course, was two weeks into a pandemic that is stretching into its sixth month.
Without the benefit of offseason on-field workouts, the Steelers decided to open training camp with Matt Feiler, a familiar face at tackle with some guard experience, manning Foster’s old position. That left Wisniewski without an immediate starting spot and backing up center Maurkice Pouncey and guards Feiler and David DeCastro.
“It does look like at this point I will probably be the backup, swing guy at both guards and center,” Wisniewski said Friday. “I will embrace that role. I do believe I am capable of being a starter in this league. I think I have proven that.”
Wisniewski, after all, did start for two of the past three Super Bowl champions: the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017 and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. With the Chiefs, Wisniewski wasn’t signed until midseason but became a starter late in the year and for the team’s playoff run.
“Obviously, I’m capable of (starting), but I have been a backup as well,” Wisniewski said. “I am the kind of guy, I’m going to come to work every day with a great attitude no matter what my role is. If I’m a backup, I’m going to be working hard every day so I am ready to go if and when someone gets hurt and I am in there.”
As fate would have it, Wisniewski has gotten his share of first-team snaps throughout the first two weeks of training camp. He helped fill in while Pouncey missed several practices to attend his grandmother’s funeral, and he played right guard when DeCastro missed much of the first week dealing with an injury.
DeCastro also left a scrimmage Friday night with an undisclosed injury, which could create more playing time for Wisniewski with the starters.
“That was good for me to get some reps in there with the ones and work with the first-team guys and work with Ben (Roethlisberger) and see how those guys work,” Wisniewski said. “That has been a big blessing, I think, and has helped me feel more comfortable and more ready to go.”
The Steelers sought a player with starting and backup experience after Foster retired and top interior backup B.J. Finney signed with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. Wisniewski has checked all of the boxes.
“Wiz is a true professional,” offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett said. “I could tell that since Day 1 in the virtual meetings. Once I met him in person here at camp and we got in the room, I could tell, ‘Wow!’ There’s no wonder this guy has done it as long as he has. He’s done a great job in the room. He’s helping the young guys along.”
As much as he enjoys being a mentor, Wisniewski signed with the Steelers for a chance to start at Heinz Field. Since playing there as a sophomore for Central Catholic in the 2004 WPIAL championship game, Wisniewski hasn’t played a game there aside from taking 32 snaps at center for the Eagles in a 2016 preseason game.
If the pandemic hadn’t wiped out practically the entire offseason, perhaps Wisniewski already would be a starter for his hometown team.
“I think the coaches here and everywhere have had to make some tough decisions and had to make them more quickly than they would because of the circumstances,” Wisniewski said. “I understand that. I get that. I’m not bitter. I don’t hold any grudges or anything. They are doing what is best for the team and I embrace that. We have a heck of a football team. Whatever the coaches think will help us win I’m in favor of that.”
