We’re only two practices into training camp, but there’s been no shortage of storylines emerging out of Latrobe right out of the gate. So, let’s talk about them. Gather around with a beverage and meal to digest all of the happenings coming out of the first few practices at Steelers training camp.
Much anticipated QB Russell Wilson has missed the first two days of training camp with a calf strain, and giving Justin Fields the opportunity for first-team reps. Though Tomlin said that nothing had changed in regards to the QB depth chart ahead of camp, with Wilson in the “pole position,” how much — if at all — Ido you think Fields’ opportunity could change that?
If the Steelers didn’t have training camp in Latrobe, where would you like to see them hold it from your perspective, as a fan, if you were going to attend?
Rate your confidence level in OC Arthur Smith at this present moment from 1-10. On the plus side, there have already been reports of targets to the middle of the field. What a world we live in!!
Give us your thoughts on how the Steelers have started out with Dan Moore at LT to open up camp.
Give us your way-too-early candidate for the 2024 Isaac Redman Award Winner that has caught your eyes through the first two days of training camp reports.
Russell Wilson’s $1.2 million contract looks better every day.
News broke Friday afternoon that Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has agreed to a four-year, $212.4 million extension with Miami. The deal averages $53.1 million a year with $167 million guaranteed. It’s the richest contract in Dolphins’ history.
Tagovailoa is now the seventh NFL quarterback making over $50 million annually, and the 15th making $40 million or more.
In short, about half of the league’s starting quarterbacks are each costing approximately 20 percent of their team’s total cap space in 2024.
Considering positional value, it’s hardly surprising. However, players like Tagovailoa and Daniel Jones, good quarterbacks who still haven’t proven to be franchise-defining, Super Bowl-caliber passers, are getting contracts comparable to Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. The going rate for starting quarterbacks is hopelessly inflated.
Now, I’ll throw another number at you: $1.2 million. That’s Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson’s contract in 2024. Thanks to the Broncos still owing Wilson around $39 million this season, he was able to sign for a hilariously low number in Pittsburgh.
At this point in his career, Wilson may not be on the caliber of any of the $40 million-plus quarterbacks in the NFL today. But he’s still a tremendous bargain. Despite his Steelers contract, he’s far more than 1/45th of the quarterback that Tagovailoa is.
This isn’t to say that Wilson is the missing piece for a Steelers’ Super Bowl run — but considering the state of the quarterback market, he and talented backup Justin Fields ($3.2 million cap hit) present an exceedingly rare opportunity this season for the Steelers. $1.2 million quarterbacks with Wilson’s abilities don’t grow on trees — if he plays solidly in 2024, or even on the same level he did last year in Denver, you can bet he’ll command a much larger contract next season.
Now, it’s up to Wilson, the Steelers, and general manager Omar Khan to capitalize on the franchise’s extra spending money in 2024. With a bargain like Wilson, the Steelers can’t be content to rebuild this season — it’s as good an opportunity as any to commit to winning now.
Offense vs. defense. Seven shots to the red zone. Which unit wins out?
The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off their 2024 training camp practices Thursday, July 25… which can only mean one thing… 7 Shots is back, baby! Everyone’s favorite Steelers training camp tradition returns once again.
This drill emphasizes work inside of the red zone, with the offense and defense conducting seven reps from the 2-yard line. Those reps are split between the first and second-team offenses, though the exact division of reps varies from day to day, usually based on how the early reps play out.
QB Kyle Allen managed to go 2-for-2 in his reps, including completions to TE MyCole Pruitt and rookie WR Roman Wilson.
Here’s a look at how the team’s been performing in the 7-shots period, with win/loss records for each day in training camp. We’ll be updating this each day with new results.
Steelers 7-Shots results (2024 training camp)
Friday, July 26: Defense wins, 4-3 (Fields and first team went 1-5)
Wilson said the injury is “nothing to worry about at all.”
Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson talked to the media Friday about the calf issue that has kept him out of the Steelers’ first two training camp practices of the year.
Russell Wilson said he injured his calf while pushing a sled during the conditioning test.
Per a video from The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo, Wilson explained that he “tweaked” his calf while doing a sled push during conditioning drills, later stating that it’s “nothing to worry about at all.”
When asked if he’d be able to play if it was a game, Wilson answered without hesitation: “Definitely.”
Wilson stated he’s still getting “mental reps” in and that he’s thankful he was able to work with the Steelers’ receivers prior to training camp.
“Good news is that I feel good and we’ll get there in time,” he added.
Wilson’s timeline for returning remains unclear, but the Steelers’ quarterback didn’t seem all too concerned. Despite not practicing, he’s still been throwing to receivers after the session is over.
Like he did yesterday, Russell Wilson throwing to teammates after practice Friday pic.twitter.com/UdKsNMBn5f
In the meantime, Wilson’s unavailability has opened the door for the rest of the Steelers’ quarterbacks depth chart to log valuable training camp reps.
The Steelers’ quarterback has been slinging the ball
As training camp begins to pick up steam for the Pittsburgh Steelers, so too do the respective position battles that raise the talent of those fighting for more playing time. Here are the biggest winners from Day 2 of Steelers’ camp.
QB Justin Fields
Fields continues to sling the ball and look good doing it. He got the first-team reps for a second straight practice with Russell Wilson not participating with the calf injury he is working through.
Fields hit George Pickens on a deep ball over the middle of the field that ended with Pickens doing a somersault into the end zone.
I know many believed this wasn’t an actual competition between Fields and Wilson entering camp. Even if that was the case, Fields is making sure everyone takes notice that he’s here to compete and win the job. He’s had a very good start to camp.
CB Beanie Bishop
Bishop continues to show why he should be the Week 1 starter at nickel. He had good coverage on Van Jefferson in seven shots to force an incompletion, and stayed tight on Calvin Austin while running a slot fade.
Steelers tried to get it to Van Jefferson again towards the back pylon out of the slot. It’s incomplete. Beanie Bishop in good coverage.
It certainly looks like he is the far-and-away leader thus far to be the starter in the slot.
CB Donte Jackson
Jackson had another impressive day. He had tight coverage on George Pickens downfield ad got a hand on a pass from Fields intended for Pickens to force the incompletion.
Big play one on one with George Pickens from newly acquired CB Donte Jackson. pic.twitter.com/IfylwvtnXf
Joey Porter Jr praised Jackson after practice and gives him major praise for being a helpful teammate.
“Man, it’s so unreal,” Porter said. “The guy that you always used to watch on YouTube, or just watching his highlights, and now he’s asking you for tips and questions. It was kind of the same thing with Patrick Peterson. I was always a big fan of him, a Hall of Famer, and the fact that I got to play alongside of him last year was so unreal. I just keep getting blessed with these guys I get to play next to, so I’m just happy.”
Joey Porter Jr. says he always admired how Donte Jackson plays. Jackson told us on Wednesday that he’s been looking to Porter for tips on playing in this defense, so I asked JPJ what that’s been like:
The Steelers seemed to have found a very good running mate for Porter, and that trade is looking better by the minute.
TE Pat Freiermuth
Freiermuth is someone that’s been heavily discussed over the last few days. He caught a 20-yard pass from Fields over DeShon Elliott, and was said to be moving around the offense a ton on Day 1.
Another nice throw from Fields to Pat Freiermuth. Great placement to lead the TE with Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott in pursuit.
Whether he’s playing in the slot or being lined up as a traditional tight end, Freiermuth is in for a big year, and he’s showing that thus far.
WR Calvin Austin III
Hey man, I can admit when I’m wrong and it appears I was wrong about Calvin Austin.
Building off of what was a very good offseason program, Austin has made some flashy plays in camp. He caught a long ball today from Fields, which was perfectly placed over Beanie Bishop and before Minkah Fitzpatrick could get over to make a play on the ball.
Perfectly placed ball by Justin Fields and nice snag between 2 defenders from Austin III. pic.twitter.com/c32wX7t19h
The Steelers could be leaning into having Austin be the WR3 on the team and starting in the slot. If that’s the case, they may try to work Roman Wilson into being the predominant outside guy opposite of George Pickens. In any case, Austin has had a very good few months of showing that he can be a playmaker for the Steelers.
The versatile third-round pick could make an impact on special teams
There’s been plenty of chatter about the Steelers receiver room this offseason, and on the second day of training camp, we got a look at how one of the fresher faces might be utilized. Roman Wilson was utilized on both kick and punt return and could be a candidate to make an impact on special teams in 2024.
#Steelers rookie WR Roman Wilson fielding kicks. Could spell Jaylen Warren during the season
There’s a lot to like about the Steelers’ new shiny toy on offense. Wilson was selected 84th overall out of Michigan after leading the National Champion Wolverines in catches and TDs.
One thing is for certain, the guy knows how to make big plays. Of his 48 catches, 80% either went for a touchdown or a first down. That home-run threat ability could pay dividends in the return game.
Another fresh face wearing black and gold this season is swiss-army knife and arguably one of the best specialists of all time, Cordarrelle Patterson, who signed with the Steelers immediately after the NFL adopted their new kick return rules, which will assuredly see a significant uptick in returns.
Between Patterson, Wilson – and potentially RB Jaylen Warren – the Steelers could be building an elite return unit on a team that lacked explosive moments throughout the last few years.
One year remains on Cameron Heyward‘s contract, something which has led to speculation about his Steelers future. The three-time All-Pro wants a two-year extension to finish his career in Pittsburgh, but no agreement on that front is imminent.
When speaking to the media, general manager Oman Khan noted that no deals are close with respect to retaining any in-house players. The list of candidates for a new contract obviously includes Heyward, whose scheduled $16MM base salary is not guaranteed. The 35-year-old is set to carry a cap hit of over $22MM, and an extension could lower that amount. Team and player have not made progress in negotiations, but Khan remains confident a departure will not take place.
“Last year you know, we had a rough stretch there but I’m confident the way he works and you know Cam the the person the player obviously and I have no doubt that Cam has a lot of football,” Khan said (via the team’s website). “I think Cam has a lot of football left in him, and I expect him to be here for years to come.”
Heyward has made it clear at multiple points this offseason his preference would be to remain the Steelers, the only organization he has played for during his 13-year career. He has also publicly acknowledged his willingness to sign with a new team in 2025, however, and that possibility will remain if no deal can be worked out prior to the start of the campaign. The six-time Pro Bowler’s latest comments confirm the stance he has taken in recent months.
“Am I confident?” Heyward said (via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). “I don’t like to go either way with that because you get your hopes up and something doesn’t happen. I’m just going to focus on being the best player I can be. This team needs my leadership and production and I look forward to doing it.”
Heyward was limited to 11 games and only a pair of sacks last year as he dealt with a groin injury. Offseason surgery has led to renewed expectations for the 2024 campaign, but much of his value will depend on his ability to return to his previous form. Pittsburgh has made draft investments along the defensive interior in recent years, though Heyward should still handle a heavy workload this season. Questions linger regarding his future, but he is currently focused on at least one more training camp in Pittsburgh.
“I’m not going to get my hopes up either way,” Heyward added. “I’m not going to put stock in that. I’ll focus on the things I can control. I can be productive. I can be healthy. If they believe in me, if I can play more, so be it. If they don’t, I’ll go somewhere else.”
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is not practicing for the second straight day to begin training camp. Wilson woke up yesterday dealing with soreness in his calf, which prompted head coach Mike Tomlin to play it safe and hold him out of practice. Tomlin said Wilson would be day-to-day with the calf issue.
Wilson was on the field in a Steelers baseball cap watching on, but not partaking in drills or live action, and that appears to be the case today, as well.
If all goes the same as Day 1, Justin Fields will be getting all the first-team reps while Kyle Allen and John Rhys Plumlee get second and third-team reps, respectively.
Fields took advantage of his opportunity on Thursday, connecting with Van Jefferson on a long touchdown and hitting George Pickens for a big gain, as well, during 7-on-7s.
Pat Freiermuth is coming off a down season, but The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly notes the Steelers have the fourth-year tight end firmly in their long-term plans (subscription required). A deal should be done before Week 1, per Kaboly. Otherwise, the Steelers — who have not negotiated contracts in-season in more than three decades — would need to wait until Freiermuth is on the cusp of free agency to complete a deal.
Arthur Smith‘s Falcons offense enjoyed production from its Kyle Pitts–Jonnu Smith tandem last season; the duo combined for 1,249 yards. Johnson’s departure leaves the Steelers thin at receiver, with the likes of Quez Watkins and Van Jeffersonin the mix for the WR2 role — barring an addition before the season — as third-rounder Roman Wilsondevelops. Pittsburgh’s track record for developing wideouts notwithstanding, it is certainly possible Freiermuth is needed to be the 2024 team’s top Pickens sidekick.
A 2021 second-round pick, Freiermuth caught seven touchdowns in Ben Roethlisberger‘s final season and then totaled a career-high 732 yards (with two TDs) in 2022. A hamstring injury cost Freiermuth five games last season, and he finished with just 308 yards. Freiermuth has also sustained three concussions as a pro. Pro Football Focus viewed the Penn State alum as a top-10 tight end in each of his first two years, however, and the Steelers will again depend on him as a run blocker in another offense set to rely on Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
While David Njoku and Evan Engram topped $13MM per year as franchise players, Freiermuth’s inconsistent production would seemingly move him to a slightly lower tier. The Steelers could potentially shoot for a deal between Cole Kmet‘s $12.5MM-AAV accord and Hunter Henry‘s three-year, $27MM pact authorized in March.
The Steelers added Freiermuth in hopes he could become a long-sought-after long-term option post-Heath Miller. The Steelers had cycled through tight ends — from Eric Ebron to Vance McDonald to Jesse James — since Miller’s 2016 retirement. It would appear the team is convinced Freiermuth can be that player. A commitment over the next six weeks would reflect that belief.
The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off their 2024 NFL Training Camp program on Thursday. Here are some clips and highlights to catch you up on the biggest storylines of Day 1 of Steelers Training Camp 2024.
Steelers fans got their first look at Russell Wilson at Latrobe.
Wilson has drawn rave reviews throughout the offseason, and Day 1 of training camp was no exception.
BTSC’s own Jarrett Bailey had a lot to say highlighting Wilson as a Day 1 “winner” for the Steelers: “Wilson is already one of my favorite Steelers. The potential for him is legitimate All-Pro status with his combination of speed, power, and football IQ. In terms of all the players I am anticipating to see in the preseason opener, he is at the top of the list.”
Justin Fields took advantage of his QB1 reps.
While Russell Wilson was out for the day managing a calf issue, Justin Fields took first-team reps… and he kinda crushed it. Plenty of splash plays made their way onto social media.
TE Rodney Williams shocked industry vet Mark Kaboly.
This is my 22nd consecutive Steelers training camp and I’ve never witnessed this before: TE Rodney Williams went over to fans who were seeking autographs, took their stuff and went and found the player they wanted. Did it with George Pickens and Justin Fields. Neat.
#Steelers QB Justin Fields with some praise for TE Pat Freiermuth.
“One thing about Pat is that he’s really savvy. He’s smart and he also has great hands, too. So when you get all those attributes in a tight end, it makes for a great player.” https://t.co/dRp99kSJux
