LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – It was the final day of heat acclimation for the Steelers in Latrobe as they practiced again without pads. Several veterans got the day off which will couple with Monday’s off day to be a little break. Here is the latest from today with an injury update and a Wilkinsburg native showing out.
Off Day
Among those players who were off on Sunday-TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, Chukwuma Okorafor, Mitch Trubisky (from team drills) and Isaac Seumalo. This allowed for several others to get snaps including several new combinations on the offensive line. Mason Rudolph got all of the second team reps and undrafted rookie Tanner Morgan got the third team for the first time all camp.
Kazee update
In a walking boot, safety Damontae Kazee revealed he might be week-to-week with his ankle injury instead of just out a couple of days. He quickly then backtracked and said if he had to, he could practice on Tuesday. Either way Kazee will miss some time during camp for the second straight year due to injury.
“It’s frustrating, I love football.
Coach T knows that too,” Kazee said. “I have one speed out there. I have to tell him, you have to tell me to stop. It’s only the first week of camp. End of the day, you got to be careful out there.”
Taking advantage
With more time due to Kazee and Fitzpatrick missing, fourth year NFL vet and Wilkinsburg native Kenny Robinson had a couple of interceptions of Rudolph.
“I was appreciative of the play-making from Kenny Robinson,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “Another guy with the opportunity to rise up due to the short lines.”
“Coach Tomlin knew me by whole life, just watching me growing up,” Robinson said. “Just giving me the opportunity, I’m thankful for that. Having his praise, I just want to pay it off to him. I feel like I have to continue to work hard and get better-and-better every day.
The 24-year old played 19 games with Carolina in 2020 and 2021 with one start. The former WVU standout has 18 career tackles in 188 snaps. Robinson was on the Panthers practice squad for parts of last year.
7 Shots
The results from the drill from the two-point conversion area on Sunday:
· Kenny Pickett pass to Pat Freiermuth broken up by Levi Wallace
· Pickett perfect fade to George Pickens in the right corner of the end zone
· Pickett scrambled and found tight end Zach Gentry for a TD
· Pickett with a quick inside TD to Freiermuth
· Mason Rudolph intercepted by Kenny Robinson
· Rudolph pass to Connor Heyward broken up by Tanner Muse
· Rudolph high and incomplete in the end zone looking for Ja’Marcus Bradley
Related
Tomlin on Alexander
Steelers signed nine-year NFL veteran middle linebacker Kwon Alexander on Sunday.
“There’s a solid NFL player with a lot of in game experience, and he’s got both experience but at the same time, he's still I think 28 years old, and I think competition is an awesome thing,” Tomlin said. “We don't have any preconceived notions about a role. We got some very capable guys at that position. We'll put them in an environment like this and let them sort themselves out.”
“Just really excited about the redevelopment of that positional room with E Roberts, and Cole, and now him. Pretty cool thing, we'll just keep working those guys and allowing those guys to show what they're capable of. The awesome thing about it is they may be new to us, but they're not new to professional football. And I think that has quickly been revealed through this process with how all those guys communicate and how quickly Kwon was able to insert himself into the action today.”
Related
Monday is an off-day with Tuesday scheduled to be the first day in full pads since the end of last season. It’s open to the public at St. Vincent College at 1:55p.