PITTSBURGH — Vince Williams wasn’t supposed to grow up this quickly.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie linebacker ended up not having a choice.

A season-ending injury to veteran Larry Foote and inconsistent play by Kion Wilson has thrust Williams into a starting role, and while fellow rookie Jarvis Jones struggles to learn the intricacies of Pittsburgh’s 3-4 defense, Williams is quietly holding his own.

Though defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau cautions it’s too soon to make any real judgment on the play of Williams or Jones, who has been demoted to the second string, there’s little doubt he’s pleased with how far Williams has come.

“I think that Vince is doing a good job,” LeBeau said. “He’s getting better every week. That’s what we’re looking for from both of those young guys. They’re playing a lot of football for us. The faster they get to be a veteran — we’re getting close to the halfway mark, which you can’t call them rookies, but they’re first-year men. They’re both really good men and are working hard. They both are going to be fine.”

Even if at the moment, the sixth-round selection Williams is perhaps a little more fine than Jones, taken with the 17th overall pick.

“(But) I think Jarvis is on schedule for a first-year linebacker,” LeBeau said. “I don’t think he’s further ahead or behind where James Harrison was, Jason Worilds was or LaMarr Woodley was. I think Jarvis is going to be fine. I like to think he isn’t either ahead or behind of where a first-year linebacker should be. (And) Jarvis is a playmaker. I’ve got to find ways to put him in where he can make plays. (So), I’m looking for good things from Jarvis.”