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Mt. Lebanon native Alex Tecza is hoping to make his NFL preseason debut Thursday, just days after the Pittsburgh Steelers signed the undrafted rookie to a contract. It’s far from certain, but the former Navy running back said there’s a chance he suits up for the 7 p.m. kickoff at Buffalo. “We’re going to see what I can do,” Tecza said Tuesday after his second day of practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “I’m still learning plays. I’m kind of running with my head cut off. I’m hoping I can learn enough to get in there for a couple reps on Thursday. That would be pretty cool.” The Steelers invited Tecza to try out at rookie minicamp in May, but the 25-year-old didn’t make the roster. Instead, he returned to Annapolis, Md., to serve as a graduate assistant coach for the Midshipmen football team. “I was kind of seeing the other side of things,” Tecza said. “You get some appreciation on the coaching side. A lot longer days than players. I was helping out, kind of printing scripts and running coffee, but I love those coaches and that staff. They’re awesome.” His plans changed, however, once the Steelers reached out this week to sign him. As a member of the military, Tecza said he needed approval before he could say yes. “I couldn’t just leave in a car and go,” Tecza said. “When you’re a Marine … you’re not really in charge of yourself. I knew I had to make some phone calls to let people know where I was going and what was going to happen.” The 6-foot, 199-pounder rushed for 2,236 yards and 23 touchdowns in three seasons at Navy. He added 41 catches, 451 yards and three receiving touchdowns in 38 career games. Tecza went undrafted in April. Signing with the Steelers reunites him with former high school and college teammate Eli Heidenreich, a seventh-round draft pick this year. “I had to jump through some hoops and make some phone calls for sure,” Tecza said. “I was kind of on the clock for about 30 minutes to an hour calling everybody I could. A lot of help from Naval Academy and the Marines on the yard.”