To Mason McCormick, there was never any question about whether the Pittsburgh Steelers rookie right guard’s left hand was broken in the fourth quarter of the season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“Yeah, I felt it pop,” McCormick said Tuesday afternoon at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “I knew right away.”

McCormick is taking a wait-and-see approach to whether he can play in Saturday’s wild-card playoff game at the Baltimore Ravens, but said it’s “feeling a lot better already” and expressed optimism he would be ready.

One thing McCormick promised is he won’t be wearing a cast if he is cleared. It’s more likely a brace will protect his broken hand.

“Not like a full-blown cast. I’m not going to club it,” McCormick said. “If I can grip and play, then I’m going to. There will be some sort of brace. Like I said, I’m not going to go if it inhibits me in any way.”

If McCormick can’t go, Spencer Anderson is expected to replace him in the starting lineup. A 2023 seventh-round pick, the 6-foot-5, 305-pound Anderson has played in all 17 games this season and started the first four in place of the injured Isaac Seumalo.

Anderson filled in for McCormick after he was injured with about 5 minutes, 25 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the 19-17 loss to the Bengals on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium.

“Obviously, regardless if Mason had broken his hand or not, I always got to be ready,” Anderson said. “You’re one play away. I had no clue I was going to be in against the Bengals. It was kind of a freak accident. Mason broke his hand, and we had just recovered a (muffed) punt. I look at him, ‘You good? He was like, ahh. I’m like, cool.’ Mind you, my hands are frozen, I’m cold. First play I go in, we call pass with no help. You’ve got to be ready when your number is called.”

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