PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers rookie offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum didn’t expect much out of his first season in the NFL.
The team’s final pick of the 2012 draft just wanted to survive final roster cuts. Thanks to injuries to Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams, Beachum will make his third straight start on Sunday when the Steelers (7-6) travel to Dallas.
Beachum grew up 90 minutes south of Dallas and considered himself a Cowboys fan as a child. Though he’s set aside a dozen tickets for friends and family members, he says he won’t be intimidated by playing so close to home. The 23-year-old says he reminds himself he’s a professional, too, and he gets paid just like everybody else, though he jokes the guys he’s trying to block tend to make a lot more money.
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