2021 Steelers training camp – Page 2

Steelers DB coach Teryl Austin on QB Ben Roethlisberger: ‘Oh he’s still got an arm’

According to Teryl Austin, Ben Roethlisberger’s arm is strong.

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For all the other position battles and new schemes, everyone is watching at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, the most important factor to this team’s success in 2021 might just be the arm of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Last season there was no denying Roethlisberger’s surgically-repaired elbow wasn’t 100 percent. Roethlisberger’s deep-ball accuracy was way down and it cut the offense off at the knees.

But according to Steelers defensive backs coach Teryl Austin, Roethlisberger’s arm is looking good through three training camp practices.

In 2020, the passing offense became relegated to nothing but a dink-and-dunk approach which not only negated any hope of a run game but limited the passing options as well.

This season, with so many weapons at the skills positions there is no excuse for a healthy Roethlisberger not to be great. This could be Big Ben’s last season and it sounds like he is working hard to go out his best.

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Steelers put unvaccinated players in yellow wristbands in practice

If you see a Steeler in a yellow bracelet, they don’t have their COVID-19 vaccine.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the top teams in the NFL concerning COVID-19 vaccinations. For the most part the team from players to coaches and other employees have bought in on the notion of getting vaccinated and doing their part for the good of the team.

But despite all this, if you are an unvaccinated Steelers player, people are going to know it. According to Pro Football Talk, the team has announced if a player isn’t vaccinated, they will be wearing a yellow wristband in practice.

The NFL has really cracked down on vaccinations this season imposing stiffer penalties for players who test positive but haven’t been vaccinated.

What do Steelers fans think of players being singled out like this if they aren’t vaccinated? Let us know in the comments.

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Steelers release 2021 initial depth chart

Here is the full Steelers depth chart released this week.

Here is a quick rundown of the first Pittsburgh Steelers depth chart of the 2021 NFL season.

Steelers run out of centers during Saturday training camp practice

The Steelers had two centers injured on Saturday.

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According to Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers finished practice without any healthy centers on Saturday. Tomlin addressed the media after practice and noted that J.C. Hassenauer and B.J. Finney both left practice with injuries.

According to Tomlin, neither of the injuries are considered serious and it sounded like it was more of a precaution. The Steelers were already working without rookie center Kendrick Green who was excused from practice to tend to a personal matter. Tomlin plugged in John Leglue and Anthony Coyle to play center despite both guys being listed as offensive tackles on the roster.

The Steelers put out their first official depth chart of the season and Hassenauer is currently listed as the starting center. It’s a foregone conclusion Green will eventually take over the starting job but as of now, it is Hassenauer ahead of Green and Finney.

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4 surprises about the Steelers initial depth chart

The Pittsburgh Steelers released their first official depth chart of the 2021 season on Saturday. Here are four things that surprised us at first glance.

Steelers training camp: Steelers focusing attention on HOF game with quarterbacks

Pittsburgh wants to see what they have with their young quarterbacks.

Ben Roethlisberger didn't participate in most team periods in the Steelers' second camp practice, but Mike Tomlin told me that was by design, done to get good looks at guys who will be more involved in the HOF game. As a result, Dwayne Haskins got far more reps today vs yesterday

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) July 23, 2021

Savy media noticed on Friday that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t a full participant in team activities during training camp practice. However, as head coach Mike Tomlin pointed out at this post-practice press conference, there was no mystery injury or other conspiracy at work.

The team is simply preparing for the first preseason game of the year, the Hall of Fame Game. The Steelers will take on the Dallas Cowboys in the first preseason game of the year on August 5, a week ahead of the rest of the league. As Tomlin explained, Roethlisberger isn’t playing in that game so he wanted to see what he had in his other quarterbacks, specifically Dwayne Haskins.

Haskins looks to have a very prominent role in preseason. Pittsburgh brought in the former first-rounder this offseason after being released by the Washington Football Team and among the Steelers quarterback room, he’s the unknown commodity.

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Steelers kick off training camp with Zach Banner and Devin Bush on the field

Pittsburgh placed no players on the PUP list to start training camp.

Best news from Day 1 of #SteelersCamp…no one is starting on PUP.

Coach Tomlin on Devin Bush and Zach Banner: "Both guys have worked their tails off. It’s great to see them both back out here and working, We’ll just continue to be thoughtful of the reps we give them."

— Missi Matthews (@missi_matthews) July 23, 2021

The Pittsburgh Steelers are banking heavily on the healthy return of linebacker Devin Bush and offensive tackle Zach Banner. Both guys are coming off of season-ending ACL injuries.

But good news from the first day of training camp as both guys were on the field practicing on Thursday and neither player had to start training camp on the PUP list.

Banner was supposed to be the team’s starting right tackle last season before tearing his ACL in the first game of the season. Now he is back and is eyeing that same spot while Chuks Okorafor moves to the left side.

Bush tore his ACL during the team’s Week 5 win over the Cleveland Browns. Bush’s return will give the Steelers a big boost in athleticism on an already elite defense.

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Steelers training camp previews: Cornerbacks

The Steelers need to find two new cornerbacks.

Next up on our look at the Pittsburgh Steelers going into training camp are the cornerbacks. Losses his this unit hard so it remains to be seen what this group will look like this season.

Steelers among teams with highest percentage of COVID-19 vaccinations

The Steelers are doing what they need to do to prepare for the upcoming season.

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According to a report by the Associated Press, multiple NFL teams remain below the vaccination threshold with only two weeks to the start of training camps. The Pittsburgh Steelers, however, are one of only 10 teams to surpass the 85 percent vaccination rate, with Pittsburgh being among the top four.

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has been consistent in his approach to COVID protocols going all the way back to last season. Whether you agree with them is separate from if they will be followed. The team is preparing for training camp at Heinz Field and the team’s facilities starting on July 28 and this is great news because it should allow the Steelers to focus solely on preparing for the 2021 season.

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Steelers 2021 training camp preview: Offensive line

The Steelers offensive line has talent but plenty of questions heading into training camp.

Next up in our look at the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp roster is the offensive line. This unit has gone through a massive overhaul this offseason due to cuts and retirements. At the same time, this is the most important group on the roster if Pittsburgh wants to get the run game back on track.