Saturday served as Pittsburgh’s final day of the NFL’s “ramp up” period before the pads can come on Monday. It also marked the end of Pittsburgh’s longest stretch of training camp, four consecutive practices before a day off Sunday. A more spirited practice looking similar to the first and second ones as opposed to yesterday’s walk-through environment. Let’s talk about it.
A reminder there’s a summary/recap near the bottom of the post for those who don’t have time to read through all of today’s notes.
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Camp Notes (Day Four)
– Beginning with the injury roundup. Safeties DeShon Elliott and Darnell Savage went through individual work but didn’t participate in team sessions. That has opened the door for Robert Spears-Jennings to see lots of first-team reps to begin camp. Along with Jalen Ramsey remaining on Active/PUP list, it’s likely why the team is set to sign Rayshawn Jenkins.
No changes to the status of the PUP players. However, I saw Jalen Ramsey stretching and doing some light jogging early in practice. He and Joey Porter Jr. went through the paces with Strength & Conditioning Coach Mark Lovat. Donte Kent continues to rehab. His work was a little less vigorous today, but I imagine they ramp him up and slow him down as part of their rehab plan. Kent probably gets a little extra rehab in the facility and came out after the healthy players at 11:07 AM.
Mike McCarthy didn’t know if any of the three would return by Monday. It seems like Kent has the best chance, but I don’t know if he’ll return that soon. I think he can get back before training camp ends Aug. 17, however.
– Rayshawn Jenkins, by the way, was not on the field Saturday. His deal isn’t yet official, but he should be out there Monday. That means Pittsburgh will need to make a corresponding move to make room on the roster. So far, Pittsburgh’s yet to make a training camp roster move.
– As expected on a weekend, today brought in the biggest crowd so far. Still not as packed as last year, morning practices thin the group a little bit, but a ton of people all the same. The Steelers’ drumline welcomed everyone to camp, set up at the main entrance.
– Before practice, Ike Taylor worked DB drills on the far field with someone who I’m pretty sure was his son Ivan Taylor, a DB at Alabama. Cool for them to have that time together before they climbed the far hill and walked up the road that leads to the main facility.
– Referees have been on-hand for every practice, including today’s.
– Travis Homer again was the first player on the field at 10:31 AM. He got on the JUGs machine, walked the field in the bare feet, and then worked on his pass-protection punch on the gauntlet bags the backs run through.
– Offensive lineman Steven Jones has been among the first to take the field and was the second out today at 10:40 AM. Inside linebacker Payton Wilson and guard Mason McCormick walked out together at 10:42 AM, Wilson signing a quick autograph or two before making his way down the stairs and to the field. Cole Holcomb came down a couple minutes later and the two, as they often do, took their turns on the blocking sled on the middle field.
– Drew Allar was the first quarterback to the field, putting on his white No. 16 jersey once he took the grass and warmed up, tossing with an assistant from 10 yards out.
– T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig walked down the stairs together with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham by their side. Three key figures to Pittsburgh’s defensive success.
– Lots of players on the JUGs machine before practice: SS DeShon Elliott, CB Asante Samuel Jr., WR Roman Wilson, TE Riley Nowakowski, and WR Germie Bernard got on there early.
– Rookie DL Gabriel Rubio and Kevin Jobity Jr. hit on opposite ends of the blocking sled before practice, each working on their punch.
– New safety Jaquan Brisker brings plenty of energy throughout practice and is one of the field’s loudest voices. A big scream as he reached the bottom of the stairs where a Youth Football team stands alongside to greet the players.
– Mike McCarthy was driven to the field in a black side-by-side that dropped him off next to the near field. He got out there as players were beginning stretch line. The first horn sounded at 11:11 AM and McCarthy was out there at 11:15 AM.
– Riley Nowakowski works with the tight ends, not running backs, during individual sessions. He did today, at least. I’ll confirm again this upcoming week.
– In warmups, the offense and defense working on separate fields, the offensive line combinations remained the same. Roman Wilson worked with the 1’s over Germie Bernard, who got a look with the starters yesterday. Rico Dowdle got the first couple running back reps with Jaylen Warren entering after. Dowdle’s reps were runs with Warren’s first play-action.
– One small but notable observation. During one rep, Mike McCarthy verbally relayed a play call to rookie QB Drew Allar. McCarthy then stepped into the huddle to hear Allar share it with his teammates, likely to test Allar’s recall and command.
McCarthy switched between a verbal play call and sending it on via his walkie talkie during this period.
– Chief of staff Steve Scarnecchia had the megaphone today and alerted players of the next drill and where to go.
– During individual period, quarterbacks first threw into a giant net with pockets as targets to serve as receivers. Later, they threw over the netting to assistants standing behind. Elsewhere, receivers and defensive backs caught passes around bags. The receivers turning upfield, like on a curl route, with defenders running downhill like they would driving on the ball in coverage.
Without quarterbacks, S&C assistant Justus Galac threw to the receivers and whipped them in there with as much velocity as he could. His arm is going to feel it tomorrow.
– During the individual period, rookie Riley Nowakowski worked among the tight ends, not running backs. Eli Heidenreich worked with the running backs, not wide receivers. He’s been a running back all the way through camp.
– Jason Simmons continues to coach the cornerbacks with Joe Whitt Jr. working with the safeties. Whitt takes a lot of time to show players what he’s looking for in each rep. Pretty hands-on guy.
– Spotted assistant GM Andy Weidl and director of college scouting Dan Colbert taking in practice between the near and middle fields.
– Alex Highsmith worked on his signature inside-spin move with coach C.J. Ah You. Highsmith is looking to find more success with it this year after a quiet year getting sacks or pressure off the move in 2025.
– Defensive assistant Shawn Howe, who Patrick Graham once referred to as the “pass rush coach,” worked with a handful of defensive linemen: Sebastian Joseph-Day, Esezi Otomewo, Anthony Goodlow, Dean Lowry, and Kevin Jobity Jr. Not sure how the group of players was mixed but that’s how he spent the time.
Special Teams Period
– Pittsburgh began the period working on field goals. Derrick Harmon and Darnell Washington were the wings.
Here are Chris Boswell’s results: good from 39 yards, 46 yards, 49 yards, 52 yards, 57 yards, and a long from 59 yards. He missed from 41 and 55 yards.
Rookie Laith Marjan attempted three kicks. He was good from 42 yards but missed from 46 yards (clanked off right upright) and 51 yards (short).
– The rest of the period was devoted to punt coverage. Gunner pairings included Tamon Lynum and Daryl Porter, Brandon Smith and Cole Burgess, Daryl Porter and Brandin Echols. During the period, TE Jaheim Bell and RB Lew Nichols worked as wings with WR Max Hurleman seeing reps as the personal protector.
On the LOS blocking: Jamin Davis-Lake McRee-Christian Kuntz-Julius Welschof-Jacoby Windmon
Despite the quarterbacks working elsewhere, Mike McCarthy watched the specialists here.
Skeleton Period
Notes from the 3-on-3 and 7-on-7 reps.
– Lew Nichols made a nice catch on an extended play from Aaron Rodgers, reaching to his back hip to make a short catch with Patrick Queen on him.
– The hardest contact of the day came from Nick Herbig tackling Germie Bernard to the ground during the period.
– Roman Wilson executed a shifty angle route to dust D’Shawn Jamison working left to right.
– Asante Samuel Jr. leaped and contested a post route deep downfield for WR Brandon Smith.
– Jaheim Bell snagged a curl away from Nick Herbig, who charged hard and nearly broke it up. Good ball to place it away from him. I think Mason Rudolph threw it but not 100-percent sure. Herbig was upset and smacked down a traffic cone that sat along the sidelines. Sorta sums up the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season, if you think about it.
From the 7-on-7 period.
– Rodgers showed off his still-very-good arm deep down the left sideline on a throw to DK Metcalf. Metcalf dove but couldn’t make the grab.
– Jaylen Warren got the initial rep in 7 on 7 with Rico Dowdle getting the next one.
– Possible miscommunication between Aaron Rodgers and Michael Pittman Jr. The veteran receiver seemed to bend his route in with Rodgers throwing it closer to the sideline. Brandin Echols covering.
– Pittman bounced back by catching a pass on a curl route in traffic from Rudolph.
– Payton Wilson with a nice play to swat away an underneath pass intended for Eli Heidenreich.
– Will Howard with a pretty touch pass down the right seam complete in stride to Max Hurleman.
– Rodgers aired out a deep ball to Ben Skowronek, but he slowed up with Robert Spears-Jennings covering and the pass fell incomplete. In warmups, Germie Bernard did similar and didn’t run through his route. Gotta finish because you never know when Rodgers will give you a chance.
Team Period (11 on 11)
First Session
The dual “2 spot” period as McCarthy referred to during Saturday’s press conference. I primarily watched the middle field with the backups/reserves to give that group a look after watching the starters the first two days, but I was able to catch a couple reps from the starters.
This was a lower-intensity period with the defense providing only minimal resistance.
1. Logan Lee and Esezi Otomewo the d-tackle pairing. Jack Sawyer and Jamin Davis at EDGE with Malik Harrison and Carson Bruener the inside linebackers. D’Shawn Jamison at left corner, Daylen Everette at right corner, and Doneiko Slaughter in the slot. Jack Henderson and Sebastian Castro at safety.
Will Howard’s throw complete left side on a comeback to Max Hurleman. Everette working on him but not charging hard to break it up, which are the “rules” of the drill.
2. Howard again complete to Hurleman against Everette. Slaughter raced in on a blitz.
3. Kaleb Johnson at running back. Howard half roll to the right and throws along the sideline. Slaughter jumped it and got both feet inbounds, the side judge affirming the catch, for an interception. Nice play.
4. Howard looks for Cole Burgess far downfield but Burgess breaks off his route and the ball is well over his head.
5. Howard looks right and then comes back left to complete a short pass to Cole Burgess.
6. Gabriel Rubio and Esezi Otomewo the d-tackles. Howard dumps his pass off left to rookie TE Lake McRee for a short completion.
7. Kyler Baugh and Kevin Jobity Jr. the d-tackles now. Jamin Davis and Julius Welschof the outside linebackers. Davis rushes in unblocked and free. Drew Allar, now in at quarterback, climbs the pocket but his throw is in the dirt and well short of his intended target.
8. Allar hits Jaheim Bell on an angle route right to left with Jack Henderson on top of him.
9. Anthony Goodlow at LDE, Kyler Baugh at NT, Kevin Jobity Jr. at RDE. Allar fires a dig over the middle complete to WR Levi Wentz working left to right.
10. D’Shawn Jamison at LCB and Ahmari Harvey at RCB. Slot fade from Allar left side complete to Wentz over Harvey.
11. Malik Harrison and Jacoby Windmon the inside linebacker duo. Allar drops to his side arm to connect with rookie WR Kaden Wetjen on a drag route left to right.
12. Otomewo and Lee the d-tackles. Slaughter and Devan Boykin the corners. Howard hits Burgess on a curl route ride side with Slaughter quick to close after the catch.
13. Slaughter and Everette the outside cornerbacks with Jamison working in the slot. Bell motions right to left. Screen right side complete to Johnson.
14. A.T. Perry and Cole Burgess the outside receivers. Right tackle Doug Nester with active eyes to pick up Carson Bruener’s blitz off the defense’s left side. Howard rolls left and completes a throw to a sliding Burgess along the sideline.
15. Howard complete to Burgess on a dig route left to right. Howard giving Burgess a lot of targets this period.
16. Allar finds Wetjen on an angle route right to left. Slaughter with the tag.
17. Allar screen pass to Johnson, who makes a nice hands catch above his head to secure the throw.
18. I missed charting one throw, but Allar rolled right and uncorked a pass down the right side complete to, I think, Wetjen. Allar’s arm is lively.
19. Allar complete to JJ Galbreath on a crosser right to left. Double-caught but secured.
Some first-team takeaways.
– Troy Fautanu got yanked after false starting and Max Iheanachor subbed in for him. I’m actually unsure if Iheanachor took it at left tackle or if Dylan Cook flipped over. That would’ve been smart of me to note. Alas, I didn’t while I my eyes shifted to the next “2’s” rep.
– Aaron Rodgers rolled right and wanted Roman Wilson in the right flat. He was open but the pass was off target and incomplete.
– T.J. Watt surprised and intercepted Rodgers today. Rodgers threw over the middle but Watt, dropping from his right outside linebacker spot, was right there to pick it off. Rodgers never saw him. Fun runback with Watt throwing a stiff arm down the right sideline, and a good example of Watt’s new-found versatility. A highlight of the day.
Second Session
1. Keeanu Benton and Cam Heyward the d-tackles. T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith the outside linebackers. Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson inside. Asante Samuel Jr. at left corner, Jamel Dean at right corner, Brandin Echols in the slot. Rico Dowdle at running back with DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., and Germie Bernard at receiver.
Rodgers complete to Metcalf after play-action on a 10-yard out against Samuel.
2. Offense in 12 personnel with Bernard and Wilson the wideouts. Jet run with Wilson taking the handoff right side.
3. Derrick Harmon and Sebastian Joseph-Day the d-tackles. Jaquan Brisker and Robert Spears-Jennings the safety duo. Bernard in the slot with Metcalf and Pittman on the outside. Jaylen Warren in the backfield.
Highsmith rushes free off the edge. Rodgers quick throw to Metcalf on a curl against Samuel.
4. Sawyer and Herbig the outside linebackers, Queen and Holcomb inside. Mason Rudolph in at QB. Hits Bernard on an in cut with Brisker glued to him all the way downfield trying to rip the ball out.
5. Esezi Otomewo and Yahya Black the d-tackles. Bruener and Holcomb the inside ‘backers. Will Howard in at QB. Ben Skowronek goes in motion. Handoff up the middle to RB Lew Nichols, one of the rare runs in team sessions so far. Carson Bruener fills with OL Steven Jones going to the ground by play’s end.
6. Jack Henderson and Devan Boykin the safeties. I-formation with Riley Nowakowski at fullback. Play-action. Howard has Bernard over the middle, but he drops the pass.
7. Daryl Porter and Daylen Everette the outside cornerbacks. Drew Allar checks in and hits Kaden Wetjen on a speed out.
8. Dean Lowry and Gabriel Rubio the d-tackles. Malik Harrison and Jacoby Windmon at inside linebacker. Eli Heidenreich at running back. Allar finds Lake McRee over the middle, but the pass bounces off his chest and falls incomplete. A drop.
A pile-up of blockers and rushers took place near the quarterback with a coach calling out “Stay on your feet!” as a reminder to the group.
9. Logan Lee at LDE, Kyler Baugh at NT, Kevin Jobity Jr. at RDE. Alex Highsmith at LOLB, Nick Herbig at ROLB. Jaquan Brisker and Robert Spears-Jennings at safety. Michael Pittman Jr. and DK Metcalf on the outside with Roman Wilson in the slot. Rico Dowdle the running back.
Handoff to Dowdle up the middle on a shotgun run.
10. Keeanu Benton and Sebastian Joseph-Day the d-tackles. O-line of Fautanu-McCormick-Frazier-S. Jones-Cook. Brandon Smith and Cole Burgess the outside receivers with Bernard in the slot. Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
Screen left intended for Jaylen Warren but the defense spots and disrupts it. Cam Heyward in particular. Rodgers’ pass lands incomplete.
11. Kevin Jobity Jr. and Anthony Goodlow at d-tackle. T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig at OLB, Roman Wilson in the slot with Michael Pittman Jr. and DK Metcalf out wide. Jaquan Brisker up on the line of scrimmage and blitzes.
Rodgers complete left side to Metcalf.
12. Samuel and Dean on the outside with Echols in the slot. Queen and Wilson the inside linebackers mugging/showing blitz into the A-gaps. Mason Rudolph in at QB, Dowdle at RB.
Echols blitzes off the edge and T.J. Watt beats Max Iheanachor inside. Rudolph rolls right on an extended play before completing to Michael Pittman Jr. along the right sideline.
Third Session
– Two-minute drill. Ball at the offense’s 35 with under two minutes to play and, I believe, two timeouts. Aaron Rodgers’ first chance.
1. Brisker and Spears-Jennings the safeties. Benton and Heyward the d-tackles. Herbig and Highsmith the EDGEs, Queen and Wilson the inside ‘backers, Samuel and Dean the outside cornerbacks. Lew Nichols at RB getting some first-team burn.
Rodgers quick throw complete to Nichols in the right flat. He quickly scoots out of bounds as Samuel tags him after a short gain.
2. Ball at the 37. Samuel breaks up a curl intended for Metcalf. Nice rep from Samuel.
3. Third down. Watt at LDE. Rodgers’ throw complete to Metcalf left side against Echols for a first down.
4. Ball at the offense’s 47. Roman Wilson in the slot. Minimal gain after Nichols handoff left side.
5. Ball on the defense’s 48. Rodgers makes a check at the line. Throws but the ball seems to slip out of his hands and falls incomplete well away from any intended target.
6. Third down. Slot fade to Metcalf right side. Echols plays it well and despite giving up a lot of size, breaks it up. He’s pumped after the play. So are his fellow DBs, who congratulate him.
7. Fourth down. Hard count from Rodgers. Herbig dusts Fautanu around the edge but Rodgers hits Pat Freiermuth over the middle for the catch and conversion. Nice play. Freiermuth gets high-fives from the other tight ends along the sideline.
8. Ball on the defense’s 39 with 36 seconds left. Rodgers complete to Brandon Smith on a quick out.
9. Ball to the 31. Smith and Pittman out wide with Bernard in the slot. Rodgers finds Bernard on a shallow cross working right to left.
10. Down to the 28. Rodgers wants Nichols in the left flat. Pass might’ve been tipped but it was off the mark, Nichols throwing out his right hand but the pass hitting off it incomplete.
11. Just 14 seconds left. Empty set with Pittsburgh in 01 personnel, Bernard and Wilson the third and fourth receivers alongside Metcalf and Pittman. Rodgers with a pretty back-shoulder throw to Pat Freiermuth working up the right seam against Patrick Queen. Different route but similar placement as his touchdown against the Colts last year.
– Second stringers take the field with Drew Allar getting the chance. Same scenario.
1. Julius Welschof and Jamin Davis at EDGE. Esezi Otomewo and Sebastian Joseph-Day the DTs, Jack Henderson and Sebastian Castro at S. Doneiko Slaughter at slot corner.
Allar’s first throw complete on a slant to Burgess with Henderson closing quick but letting Burgess pass in this no-tackling session.
2. Ball at the offense’s 41. Allar’s throw is behind A.T. Perry, but he reaches back for it and hauls it in. A nice grab.
3. Ball on the defense’s 49. Allar misses an open Burgess on a crosser right to left. Behind and off target.
4. Heidenreich at running back, motioning and splitting out wide to the left. Davis rushes in free from his linebacker spot. Allar’s throw to Perry is high and incomplete. They didn’t seem entirely on the same page.
5. Third down, 1:16 on the game clock. Allar wants Burgess on a curl, but the throw is a little wide and Burgess might’ve slipped a bit coming out of his break. Incomplete. Good pocket by the o-line, including LT Broderick Jones and RT Max Iheanachor. Bruener and Holcomb the inside linebackers on this play.
6. Fourth down. Nowakowski slot right, empty set. On-target back-shoulder throw down the left sideline is complete to Perry working against Daylen Everette. Good ball and big-time play. A 38-yard pickup.
7. Ball at the 11. Heidenreich gun run left side.
8. Down to the 8. Another run by Heidenreich.
9. Allar skies a throw to the back left corner of the end zone intended for Burgess. Out of range and incomplete with Daryl Porter covering.
10. Only 13 seconds left. Burgess and Perry the outside receivers with Max Hurleman in the slot. Nowakowski at tight end. Sprinting right, Allar wants Hurleman on the goal line. It’s covered and taken away. Allar moves to his second read, Perry, in the right corner in the back of the end zone. Tosses it up but incomplete with Daryl Porter covering. Looked like a grab and lots of contact here, but the refs didn’t throw a flag.
That ends practice.
Camp Recap (TL;DR)
– My early sense in broad terms is that Rico Dowdle could get more burn on early/”run” downs and Jaylen Warren in passing situations. But going to keep watching once the pads come on next week and Pittsburgh can truly rep its run game. First handoffs in team sessions came today. There’s a lot more to learn and chart.
– Will Howard’s best passes are ones down the seam within 15-25 yards. Where he can show his plus touch and accuracy. Some of the deeper concepts or throws without loft, his lack of velocity shows up.
– Drew Allar can and has spun it downfield but still searching for consistency on the “layups.”
– Wasn’t Germie Bernard’s best day. A drop, not running through an early route. Very early but want to see more from him next week.
– Pat Freiermuth and DK Metcalf were actively targeted in the passing game today. Freiermuth continues showing plus hands.
– Just watching in drills, Riley Nowakowski catches the ball really well. Continue to see Joaquin Davis struggle to bring passes in cleanly.
– K Laith Marjan showed a good leg in college with range to hit from 55 yards. Didn’t show it today. Short from 51 without really any wind isn’t NFL-level. Maybe just a mishit ball or knocking off some rust.
– Asante Samuel Jr. continues stacking good days. Defense hasn’t been allowed a ton of pushback, but he’s made a lot of plays in coverage. Can Pittsburgh find a way to get him snaps in situational/sub-packages?
– Max Hurleman has been doing it all on the punt unit. Through just three practices repping it, he’s aligned as a punt returner, gunner, and personal protector. Lots of versatility while playing a bit of receiver.
– Nice to see Watt’s interception from ROLB, the “other” spot. Fruits of Pittsburgh’s plan to move him around more.
– Rookie DL Gabriel Rubio is a huge man. Looks the part and has been flashing good strength and pop at the point of attack. I can see why Pittsburgh had draft interest.
Saint Vincent Snapshot
A look at the handheld camera I’ve referenced a couple times in camp. To put a visual since I mention it so much. You can see Mike McCarthy (black shirt/pants) and Brian Angelichio (white cap, black shorts in the foreground) right ahead watching the quarterbacks.
Tallest Players In Steelers History
Highlighting the tallest players who have played for the franchise.
Daniel McCullers/NT – 6066
“Shade Tree” had the size of a grizzly bear. His play was closer to teddy bear. McCullers looked the part and lasted in Pittsburgh for six seasons but recorded just 41 tackles across 73 games as a backup nose tackle. His height became a detriment, too tall and often out-leveraged when trying to stuff the run.
Soundtrack Of Camp
A song I listened to during my trip to or from Latrobe.
Straws – The Brook & The Bluff
Fred Rogers Quote Of The Day
“When I say it’s you I like, I’m talking about that part of you that knows that life is far more than anything you can ever see or hear or touch. That deep part of you that allows you to stand for those things without which humankind cannot survive. Love that conquers hate, peace that rises triumphant over war, and justice that proves more powerful than greed.”