Category: 2021 Steelers training camp

Steelers RB Najee Harris wants heavy reps in HOF game

Najee Harris wants to get on the field and see what he can do.

[mm-video type=video id=01fb08d4ac96ws1y2td1 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fb08d4ac96ws1y2td1/01fb08d4ac96ws1y2td1-2939206e099ea7efa6e8ca981d2cbfe4.jpg]

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Najee Harris is ready to play some football. Harris told head coach Mike Tomlin he wanted to play as many snaps as possible in next week’s Hall of Fame Game against the Dallas Cowboys.

When Harris spoke to the media after Saturday’s practice he talked about why it is important to get that experience.

“It’s a new way to get your feet wet and let the game slow down for you,” Harris said. I’m trying to play as much as I can that game. But you know what I really want to do is take as much game reps as possible.”

Harris is being asked to bring the Steelers struggling run game back to life. He seems to have embraced this role early in his career and understands the pressure on him and what his responsibility is to this team.

The Steelers will take on the Cowboys in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 5.

[vertical-gallery id=491971]

[listicle id=487273]

 

Steelers waive TE Dax Raymond, sign Marcus Baugh

Pittsburgh swapped tight ends on Friday.

[mm-video type=video id=01fb08d4ac96ws1y2td1 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fb08d4ac96ws1y2td1/01fb08d4ac96ws1y2td1-2939206e099ea7efa6e8ca981d2cbfe4.jpg]

The Pittsburgh Steelers did a training camp swap of tight ends on Friday. The team announced they would be signing Marcus Baugh to replace Dax Raymond who they waived.

Baugh has been in the league since 2018 after joining the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State. Given his career has consisted mainly of time on practice squads or IR, it is a real longshot he would even make the Steelers practice squad this year.

[vertical-gallery id=491971]

[listicle id=492443]

Steelers ask fans at training camp to stop sharing practice videos on social media

Should fans stop sharing practice videos?

[mm-video type=video id=01fbpjftenfms7sc7hzb playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fbpjftenfms7sc7hzb/01fbpjftenfms7sc7hzb-87cfe28ceea90aace9503dd4fe11efdd.jpg]

If you aren’t able to attend Pittsburgh Steelers training cap practices, you can still keep up on all the action on social media. Not only do local beat writers offer up some nuggets about what is happening at practice but fan videos have started popping up everywhere.

And the Steelers arent’ happy about it. Filming is prohibited for fans who attend but this hasn’t slowed them down so on Thursday the team needed to remind them on the big screen.

First off, I totally get why the team does this. But it really is an antiquated idea. It is highly unlikely Pittsburgh is giving away a lot of trade secrets at training camp practice and if they were, another team would have no problems sending someone in to video without anyone knowing. Frankly, if the Steelers are this worried, close the practices and be done with it.

Do you think fans should be allowed to video and share it on social media? Let us know in the comments.

[vertical-gallery id=491971]

[listicle id=492443]

Steelers RB Najee Harris back at practice in yellow wristband

Najee Harris remains one of the Steelers not yet fully vaccinated.

[mm-video type=video id=01fa925zprc77zzeg0ab playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fa925zprc77zzeg0ab/01fa925zprc77zzeg0ab-995cc8d10672212d269ddcffa6bb75c1.jpg]

On Wednesday, several members of the Pittsburgh Steelers media in attendance at training camp practice reported that Steelers rookie running back Najee Harris was no longer wearing a yellow wristband. This indicated Harris was fully vaccinated.

But those same media on Thursday, including beat reporter Mark Kaboly, have reported Harris is back with the wristband on. Perhaps Wednesday was just an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction.

We can make some assumptions based on this, in particular, that Harris is in the process of becoming fully vaccinated but hasn’t gotten his second shot. The Steelers are one of the closest franchises to full vaccination so it is hard to imagine the team’s rookie feature back won’t be vaccinated as well.

[vertical-gallery id=492215]

[listicle id=487273]

Injury to Steelers C J.C. Hassenauer opens door for rookie Kendrick Green

Kendrick Green is getting key reps with the starting offense.

[mm-video type=video id=01f5hmvqq34rep29wz72 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f5hmvqq34rep29wz72/01f5hmvqq34rep29wz72-0e8a028622854a567b55538f55449bf4.jpg]

Typically when you think of training camp injuries, it is always bad news. However, in the case of the Pittsburgh Steelers and center J.C. Hassenauer, his injury could be helping this team.

Hassenauer has been sidelined for several practices with a leg injury, which has opened the door for rookie center Kendrick Green to get a more pronounced role with the first-team offense.

Green was selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Illinois and despite only a handful of starts at center in college is in line to be the heir apparent to Maurkice Pouncey. Early reports from head coach Mike Tomlin about Green have been promising, praising not only his communication but also his conditioning.

“I like what he did from a conditioning standpoint between the end of the spring and now,” Tomlin said. “You can see he’s one of those guys who took a step. That month or so away from us, man, he really spent that time in the right areas, and it should be continually beneficial for him.”

When it comes to Tomlin, if you are a young player, physical conditioning is key to getting on the field. Every season you can divide up the rookies who put in the time in the offseason working on improving their conditioning and those who did not. Green is making a strong case to be the opening week starter at center despite the depth chart listing Hassenauer in that spot.

[vertical-gallery id=492032]

[listicle id=492077]

Steelers WR Diontae Johnson still dropping passes

The drops continue for Diontae Johnson.

[mm-video type=video id=01fb08d4ac96ws1y2td1 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fb08d4ac96ws1y2td1/01fb08d4ac96ws1y2td1-2939206e099ea7efa6e8ca981d2cbfe4.jpg]

It is too soon to jump to any conclusions but early reports from Pittsburgh Steelers training camp aren’t great for wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Mike Nicastro, former marketing personnel for the Steelers is in attendance at Pittsburgh’s first padded practice and shared the tweet above about Johnson still dealing with the drops that plagued him last season.

Johnson led the league in drops in 2020 with 16 and honestly depending on who you asked, could have had a few more count. It was obvious the problems last year were mental and not due to an injury and the fact it is still happening now affirms that.

If the Steelers are hoping to win another AFC North crown in 2021, they need Johnson to be at his best. Johnson, along with JuJu Smith-Schuster and Chase Claypool have the potential to be the best three-deep wide receiver depth chart in the AFC.

[vertical-gallery id=491971]

[listicle id=487273]

Several Steelers not participating in first padded practice

Several Steelers will not be practicing on Wednesday.

[mm-video type=video id=01fbfmv8t5rztjz5sejn playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fbfmv8t5rztjz5sejn/01fbfmv8t5rztjz5sejn-4fa4abcbcf2673db895420ccd6353b25.jpg]

The Pittsburgh Steelers took the field in pads for the first time on Wednesday and around 6,000 fans are in attendance to see some hitting at Heinz Field. Based on those in attendance, several Steelers are not in uniform and won’t be participating.

Here is a rundown of who we know isn’t practicing:

G Kevin Dotson

C J.C. Hassenauer

DE Stephon Tuitt

WR Cody White

The Steelers are getting safety Antoine Brooks Jr. and wide receiver Diontae Johnson back. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is also dressed to practice but his absence from practice was not due to injury.

On the other side, linebacker Devin Bush and offensive tackle Zach Banner are both set to go. This is great news considering both players suffered torn ALCs last season.

[vertical-gallery id=491971]

[listicle id=487273]

Steelers donning their pads for first practice in front of fans

The hitting will begin on Wednesday for the Steelers.

[mm-video type=video id=01fbpjftenfms7sc7hzb playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fbpjftenfms7sc7hzb/01fbpjftenfms7sc7hzb-87cfe28ceea90aace9503dd4fe11efdd.jpg]

Wednesday will be a day of firsts for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. The team has moved its training camp work to Heinz Field and on Wednesday the team will put on full pads for the first time this training camp as well as allowing fans to watch practice.

Pittsburgh was forced to hold training camp at their own facilities for the second straight year after the NFL denied their COVID-19 protocol plan to allow them to return to Saint Vincent College.

The Steelers were one of two teams who started training camp early as they and the Dallas Cowboys prepare for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 4.

Pittsburgh has begun a significant re-tooling of the team, especially the offensive line this offseason so getting those guys on the field and getting some contact in will be great to see.

[vertical-gallery id=492032]

[listicle id=492259]

First look at the Steelers starters from the initial 2021 depth chart

Here are the initial starting lineups for the Steelers based on the first depth chart.

[mm-video type=video id=01fb08d4ac96ws1y2td1 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fb08d4ac96ws1y2td1/01fb08d4ac96ws1y2td1-2939206e099ea7efa6e8ca981d2cbfe4.jpg]

Last week the Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off training camp released their first official depth chart of the 2021 NFL season. We have already talked about what surprised us about the depth chart but this is just a quick look at what the starting lineup would look like as of right now.

We would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on how you think this will change by the start of the regular season and does this group give you confidence for the upcoming season?

Offense

QB: Ben Roethlisberger

RB: Najee Harris

TE: Eric Ebron

WR: Chase Claypool

WR: Diontae Johnson

SWR: JuJu Smith-Schuster

FB: Derek Watt

LT: Chukwuma Okorafor

LG: Kevin Dotson

C: J.C. Hassenauer

RG:  Trai Turner

RT: Zach Banner

Defense

DT: Cam Heyward

DE: Stephon Tuitt

NT: Tyson Alualu

LOLB: T.J. Watt

LILB: Devin Bush

RILB: Robert Spillane

ROLB: Alex Highsmith

LCB: Joe Haden

RCB: Cameron Sutton

NCB: Antoine Brooks Jr.

FS: Minkah Fitzpatrick

SS: Terrell Edmunds

Special Teams

K: Chris Boswell

P: Jordan Berry

LS: Kameron Canaday

KR/PR: Ray-Ray McCloud

[vertical-gallery id=492215]

[listicle id=492073]