LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Following up a big energy day, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was pleased with the enthusiasm now with back-to-back days. Really did a lot of situational drills as they were without full pads with one more practice now until the first preseason game.
Here is the Fan 5 from Steelers camp with injury news, talk of the best defense ever, a fight and more from St. Vincent College Wednesday.
#1 Will Howard, Derrick Harmon, injury updates
Tomlin said Howard is week-to-week with a broken finger. He is looking at his options and they will have more information next week as he is definitely out Saturday. No other information about Howard as Skylar Thompson ran the third-team.
Defensive lineman Derrick Harmon is dealing with ‘minor things associated with the rigors of training camp’. He was given the day off on Wednesday and we should find out more about is status Thursday at noon when Tomlin previews the Jacksonville game.
Those who missed practice due to injury-OLB Alex Highsmith, OT Calvin Anderson, CB Donte Kent, WR Calvin Austin, CB Cory Trice.
Tomlin said they rested a number of established players, Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, Chris Boswell among them saying the young players need practice time as they will be the ones playing the majority of snaps Saturday in Jacksonville. Cam Heyward didn’t do most 11-on-11 drills, but Joey Porter did return to partial full-team work.
#2 Best defense ever
First-year Steelers safety Juan Thornhill ended the two-minute drill with an interception for the second straight day. Last year with the Browns, he had a bold statement about his new defense.
“I think it can be one of the best of all-time,” Thornhill said. “Literally, we got pieces everywhere. Look at the roster and look at who we have, it’s incredible. I don’t feel like there is a weakness in the defense. You look at most teams, you know you got that fish out there. That one or two people where you are not sure. Not us.”
#3 Skylar Thompson
The 28-year-old took over for his one-time Kansas State teammate running the third team on Wednesday. It was highlighted by a scramble Thompson made to the right and hit receiver Lance McCutcheon down the middle of the field in stride for a big gain.
“He did a good job today,” Tomlin said. “I thought he did a nice job.”
#4 Fight/Pickin’ Juan/7 Shots
Fautanu throwing
Later in the practice Wednesday during 11-on-11 drills, rookie running back Caleb Johnson was running through a hole when he was clotheslined by free agent defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo. Johnson immediately knocked to the ground and tackle Troy Fautanu came out swinging at Otomewo. A scrum ensued with some pushing and shoving for about 30 seconds.
“I didn’t mean to do it,” Otomewo said. “We were just playing hard. I was coming off a block and he was there in the gap.”
Mr. INT
For a second straight day, safety Juan Thornhill made an interception during the two-minute drill and both off Rodgers. This one was directly and not tipped as happened Tuesday.
“Literally just reading the quarterback’s eyes,” Thornhill said. “I didn’t think he was going to throw it. He threw it. The ball game to me and I made a catch. It’s that simple.”
Notes
· WR Roman Wilson followed up his best practice of camp with another solid performance including a couple connections with Rodgers, who praised this effort and talent.
· Beanie Bishop (slot), Brandin Echols, James Pierre and Joey Porter rotated at corner, DeShon Elliott and Juan Thornhill-safeties was the first-team secondary with Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen at linebacker with Yahya Black, Keeanu Benton and Logan Lee working on the first-team defensive line and the healthy outside linebackers rotated between TJ Watt, Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer.
· A pick for 39, the number now worn by recently signed rookie free agent Daryl Porter
7 Shots
· Aaron Rodgers back end zone TD to DK Metcalf
· great coverage, Rodgers would have been sacked, incomplete to Darnell Washington
· Yahya Black batted down Rodgers pass
· Beanie Bishop knocks away pass from Rudolph to Robert Woods
· Mason Rudolph back end line TD to Scotty Miller
· RB Lew Nichols likely TD, handoff up middle, no pads
· Rodgers middle Metcalf TD 2 yds past the goal line
#5 H2P ends practice
Record-setting Pitt kicker Ben Sauls kicked a 37-yard field goal to end practice after Mason Rudolph led the team down to the 20-yard line with 1:20 on the clock to start. Teammates were yelling trying to distract Sauls, but he drilled it down the middle saying opportunities like that don’t come often and it was big to do it in front of all of his teammates.
Sauls won’t give up secrets, but says he’s been picking Chris Boswell’s brain. He noted that he’s five years younger than any of the other kickers or the starting long-snapper.
“I think I’ve gained a whole lot,” Sauls said. “I’m extremely lucky to be surrounded by them. All of those years of experience, I don’t have that. To be able to learn from them, and they’ve helped me out a bunch. If they see something, they’ll pull be aside and say here’s how you play this situation. Here’s something to think about. They’ve really taken care of me and that means a lot to me.”