LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Kenny Pickett got his first opportunity with the first team on Tuesday as the Steelers are nearing an end to their time in Latrobe.
Pickett was with the first team during a variation of the two-minute drill. The offense was at midfield and had 1:01 to score a touchdown. Pickett completed a couple of short passes and then after an incompletion, hit George Pickens down the sidelines for a 35-yard gain.
NOW-it is worth noting that Minkah Fitzpatrick was closing on Pickens and if in a normal game would have unleashed a big hit on the receiver, but didn't touch him because as Mike Tomlin will say, these are 'game-like' conditions. The former Pitt star would throw the next two passes incomplete and the clock ran out on the 14-yard line.
Mason Rudolph, who got the same opportunity with the first team in the same drill last week, got the next reps and was able to run 10 plays during that time. He got it down to the 11-yard line on a nice sideline grab by Tyler Vaughns. He then ran out of downs and time with four straight incompletions.
Fitzpatrick and Cam Heyward were jawing with the offense and with Tomlin. Showing a level of intensity for a drill three weeks into training camp.
"We expect that from those guys," Tomlin said. "You can't lead from the back and those guys are leaders for us, and their presence is always felt."
Minkah v Pickens
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One-on-one drills from the 20-yard line several times, the Steelers thoughtfully matched up Minkah Fitzpatrick against rookie George Pickens. Several times Pickens got the better of the play including a combat catch and another time he was able to create separation from Fitzpatrick with hands. Make no mistake they were tight battles.
"The exposure was not for Minkah, it was for George," Tomlin said.
There was a time where the pair slapped hands in a mutual admiration for each other's efforts.
7 shots
Also new for Pickett, consecutive opportunities as the second quarterback on during the 7 Shots drill.
· Mitch Trubisky draw, Tomlin ruled the defense stopped him, it was disputed because there is no hitting the QB
· Trubisky just missed Diontae Johnson short
· Trubisky scramble TD to TE Pat Freiermuth
· Trubisky under pressure to Freiermuth, TD
· Pickett rolled left hitting Anthony McFarland for a TD
· Pickett TD on a diving catch from TE Connor Heyward
· Rudolph TD to Vaughns (Rudolph did throw his first interception of camp, linebacker Buddy Johnson tipping a ball in the air and then coming down with it)
New offensive lineman
Another sign that despite early talk Kendrick Green will never go back to center, the team claimed one off waivers from Detroit. Ryan McCollum to the Steelers as Nate Gilliam was waived.
McCollum joins several former Texas A&M players including left tackle Dan Moore, Junior. The Texas native was a captain for five games his senior season, awarded SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week when the Aggies rushed for 313 yards against Auburn.
The Texans gave the 6'5", 300-pound McCollum his first shot as an undrafted free agent last year. He would stay on Houston's practice squad before the Lions signed him and he played in 13 games with Detroit, starting one.
Boom
The loudest applause was for the punter on Tuesday. The day they released his competition, Pressley Harvin had his best performance. Harvin hit a punt from the back line of one end zone that crossed the goal line of the other end zone drawing big cheers. He followed that up with a 65-yarder, all hang-time.
Injuries
A couple of in-practice injuries, starting nickel Arthur Maulet dealt with a hamstring issue and running back Master Teague an ankle injury. Tomlin listed both as day-to-day, calling them minor.
WR Calvin Austin did not practice, but was on the field without a boot on his foot. FB Derek Watt, LB Alex Highsmith, DL Montravious Adams and LB Marcus Allen all did not practice.
No setbacks for WR Chase Claypool, LG Kevin Dotson, RB Najee Harris, LB Genard Avery, WR Diontae Johnson and CB Ahkello Witherspoon returning for a second day of practice. RB Benny Snell came back from his right knee injury to participate fully.
"We have a significant number of guys that are working in various levels of work and our goal is to keep that moving forward in an effort to get those guys to the stadium next week," Tomlin said. "So, it's a big week for guys like [Kevin] Dotson and [Genard] Avery and others, and if you saw them getting additional reps, they need the exposure, we need the exposure to them and equally as important, they need the readiness as they step into a stadium next weekend."
