There is an argument to be had that the most consistently impressive wide receiver (not named JuJu Smith-Schuster) at Steelers training camp has been a guy who doesn't even have a Wikipedia page.
That might change this year.
Fourth-year wideout Tevin Jones has, through a week and a half, given Steelers coaches and management something to think about.
Jones, due to injuries to fellow receivers Donte Moncrief and Diontae Johnson, has been getting some reps with the first-team offense over the last week and has made the most of those opportunities.
"My main objective was to step up when my teammates went down and just pour into the offense what they already taught me," said Jones, who hopes to be a bit of a late bloomer at 26 years old. "I figure if I keep going out there and keep doing do what I'm doing, hopefully I'll do all I can to help the team."
Following stints with the Texans and Chiefs in which he never appeared in an NFL game, Jones caught on with the Steelers during last year's offseason.
"From the first day I came out here to now, it's been miles, it's been journeys, but I still have a long way to go and I'm ready for that journey," he said.
Jones spent last season on the Steelers' practice squad, showing enough to warrant Pittsburgh's coaching staff wanting him to hang around.
Now Jones, who made 27 starts, had 90 career catches for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns at Memphis, wants to contribute more. But, with a fairly established group of receivers in front of him, cracking the 53-man roster may be a challenge.
"Our receive room is always crowded," he said. "Everybody has certain talents, but I just try to go out there and do all I can to make the team better."
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Moncrief, Johnson and James Washington are certain locks to make the team. Ryan Switzer and Eli Rogers appear to be in a competition for a spot, however the team could decide to keep both. That would surely leave Jones on the outside. There is also others in a similar boat as he, such as Diontae Spencer, Johnny Holton and Trey Griffey.
"I love competition," he said. "Competition brings the best out of me. I always compete, when I'm eating or doing whatever. I'm one out of three brothers, so we always competed every day."
The biggest improvement, Jones thinks, from last year to this is between the ears. Increased understanding of the playbook, mixed with his speed and 6-foot-2, 216-pound frame, has gone a long way to a productive first ten practices of training camp.
"When you know more, you can just relax," he said. "When you're relaxed, you just go out there and let your natural ability just go and play."
He will have a chance to go and play tonight when the Steelers host Tampa Bay in the preseason opener at Heinz Field. The Steelers will rest a number of veterans for the game, so Jones could get an extended look with what first team players are suited up.
A year ago, Jones finished the preseason emphatically, catching two touchdown passes in the final exhibition game.
"Hopefully you see an improvement (from last preseason)," he said. "I try to get one percent better every day. So that's a lot of one percents when you add up those days. I'm just ready to go out there and eat."
Hear all of what Tevin Jones had to say below.
