LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – While OL Nate Herbig left with a shoulder injury, the Steelers did get a couple of safeties back in practice on Sunday. Here are some camp highlights, what Broderick Jones said of Nick Herbig and the importance Mike Tomlin placed on the practice.
Kazee returns
The veteran joked that he got kicked out of the treatment room as he returned next to Minkah Fitzpatrick for almost all of the first-team reps on defense. Damontae Kazee suffered an ankle injury on Day 3 of practice and Sunday was his first full-go after doing some individual work on the sidelines the previous three practices.
“Just being on that sideline for the past week is boring to me,” Kazee said. “I don’t want to go back to that sideline, just sitting there.”
He said the ankle is 105% and seeing his teammates work on Friday at Tampa Bay really made him want to play. He said he already has a good feel of playing with Fitzpatrick from last year and six years with Keanu Neal, but needs some work with the new linebackers.
Neal suffered an undisclosed injury on August 2 and did his first 11-on-11 work since, during the two-minute drill, the final period of practice.
“It’s been a long-time coming,” Neal said, “Excited to be back, good time to be back.”
He said it’s too early to tell if he will be ready to play Saturday.
Other injury news-Keeanu Benton, Nick Kwiatkoski, Tre Norwood did not practice. Joey Porter, Junior was dressed but didn’t go in team drills. Tomlin called all day-to-day injuries.
Tomlin Take
“It’s a significant day, just the process, the cycle of getting better of prep, play analysis and then play and move forward,” Tomlin said of Sunday’s full-padded work. “Days like today are really significant. It really sets the trajectory for the upcoming week. When we do a good job, we have the chance to have consistent performance and that’s what we seek.”
“We had an off day yesterday. We have an off day tomorrow. We can’t waste days like today. In the midst of that, there’s a nugget that’s called today. I thought they really got after it and took advantage of it.”
7 shots
· Kenny Pickett pass knocked away by Fitzpatrick
· Pickett too high for Diontae Johnson in the corner of the end zone
· Pickett too high for Allen Robinson
· Anthony McFarland draw up the middle for a TD
· Mitch Trubisky to Gunner Olszewski for a TD
· Corner Luc Barcoo with a pass defense against Trubisky
· Trubisky TD pass in the back to Dez Fitzpatrick
2-minute drill (actually the 1:18 drill from the 50-yard line)
1st team
· Pickett scramble for five yards
· Pickett hits Robinson in-bounds for seven yards
· Pickett in-bounds to Najee Harris for six years
· Pickett throws incomplete for George Pickens, stopping the clock with 19 seconds left
· Pickett hits Pickens for 21 yards, time out 13 seconds left
· Pickett threw a low pass on a cross that Robinson dug out in the end zone for a score
2nd team
· Trubisky to Darnell Washington for five yards
· Trubisky middle to Olszewski for 18 yards
· Trubisky behind Olszewski incomplete
· Trubisky to Gunner eight yards
· Trubisky to Gunner 16 yards
· Trubisky finds Washington in the back of the end zone for a TD
O-line v D-line/OLB drill
· Broderick Jones got the best of DeMarvin Leal a couple of times
· Nick Herbig continued to show off his speed and even called out Jones, he wanted to go against him
“I love going against Nick because he’s my roommate,” Jones said. “We sit down at the end of the night and watch our little clips if we go against each other. We always talk smack to each other. It’s a good rivalry. I love him to death. I love the way he plays. He plays with passion, every time I go up against him it’s a good battle.”
Related
Steelers are off on Monday and return to St. Vincent College on Tuesday at 1:55 with the only home preseason game Saturday night against the Bills.