Tag: Steelers training camp

Spotlight on Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth at training camp

Pat Freiermuth is loving the new Steelers offense and his expected role in it.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded away wide receiver Diontae Johnson, no one was sure how the Steelers would compensate in the passing game. In the backs of all of our minds, we were hopeful that with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in the fold, we had confidence that tight end Pat Freiermuth could see an expanded role.

Early in training camp, this is exactly what the Steeles are doing as Freiermuth looks like he is finally going to be featured in the passing game. This is something Freiermuth is seeing and he’s loving it.

“Slants, digs, and all that, I’m running it,” Freiermuth said. “Yeah. Yeah. It’s been awesome to add that, that full route tree to my repertoire. And you know, it’s been great. It’s been fun. Everything’s been great.”

We have all seen what Freiermuth can do with competent quarterback play and opportunities. In 2022, Freiermuth saw a career-high 98 targets. Comparing that to the Tennessee Titans in 2020, their top tight end, Jonnu Smith and fullback Anthony Firsker combined for 118 targets.

But in 2023, when Smith was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, the combination of Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith had 160 targets. This is what we expect to see between Freiermuth and Darnell Washington with Freirmuth getting the Lion’s share. The Falcons ran their offense through one wide receiver, one running back and a tandem of tight ends. The formula is Pittsburgh will look a little different but Freiermuth is poised for a breakout.

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Justin Fields making the most of his reps at Steelers training camp

Justin Fields has looked great at Steelers training camp.

No one is ready to name Justin Fields the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback. However, through two training camp practices, with Russell Wilson on the sidelines with a calf strain, Fields is taking the first-team reps and is looking sharp.

Videos of Fields making some amazing throws at training camp have been popping up over social media. Seeing Fields drop bombs to wide receiver George Pickens and Calvin Austin III is a welcome sight and even if this doesn’t materialize into anything for this season, Fields is taking full advantage of his opportunities. He is building a case to get a contract extension with the Steelers and be the quarterback of the future of this team.

Fields’ NFL career to this point has been up and down with most fans and pundits unable to agree with any regularity as to how good Fields is, could be, or has been to this point.

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Steelers CB Beanie Bishop Jr. gets 1st-team reps at training camp

The Steelers might have found a real steal in undrafted free agent Beanie Bishop Jr.

When we did our projection for the Pittsburgh Steelers starting defense for Week One of the NFL regular season, we plugged in undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop Jr. as the team’s starting nickel/slot cornerback.

And lo and behold, the first day of Steelers training camp and that is exactly where Bishop lined up on the rare occasions when the team ran an extra cornerback. This is just one practice but it’s very promising for his chance to do much more than just make the 53-man roster.

We had a fifth-round grade on Bishop in the 2024 NFL draft, so we were shocked when he went undrafted.  Bishop is an aggressive, confident coverage player who can line up at cornerback or safety.

The team had their inside cornerback all set up when they signed Cameron Sutton after his release from the Detroit Lions. But with Sutton set to sit out the first eight weeks of the season serving a suspension, Bishop is going to take full advantage of this opportunity.

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Steelers DT Cam Heyward talks new contract from training camp

Cam Heyward seems to have no confidence in getting a new deal done and just wants to focus on getting better.

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward made it clear at the start of the offseason that he wants a contract extension with the Steelers. Heyward believes he has more great football in him, wants to be paid for it and he wants to continue to play in Pittsburgh.

However, the Steelers haven’t committed to Heyward as of yet so Heyward reported to training camp this week with one final season left on his contract. After the team’s first practice of training camp, Heyward talked to the media and was asked about his confidence that a new contract would get done before the start of the season.

Heyward didn’t take the bait and wasn’t going to commit one way or another as to how he feels about his chances to get a contract extension this offseason.

Heyward is one of those players we cannot picture in another uniform and we seriously hope he and the Steelers can come to terms on a contract extension keeping him in the black and gold.

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Mike Tomlin expects ‘big things’ from Steelers DT Keeanu Benton

The Steelers have a future star in Keeanu Benton.

Last season the Pittsburgh Steelers got a huge bargain when they snagged defensive tackle Keeanu Benton with their second pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft.

In year two the Steelers are going to put even more on Benton’s plate with Cameron Heyward a year older and returning from injury. However, head coach Mike Tomlin seems very optimistic about Benton’s growth and development this season. Tomlin talked about the upside which was a huge buzzword for Benton predraft.

“Big things,” Tomlin said. “Big things. He can grow in all areas. He’s a talented young guy with tremendous upside and room for growth in all areas.”

In 2023, Benton played only 43 percent of the defensive snaps. Despite this, he earned a 74.8 grade by Pro Football Focus. Last season, Pittsburgh had some lapses in run defense and it started up front. Benton started nine games last season but should be the full-time starter in 2024 with Montravius Adams working in as his backup.

Steelers RB Najee Harris makes bold claim about his value

Najee Harris has always been outspoken about the undervaluing of NFL running backs.

The most interesting part of the Pittsburgh Steelers arrival at Latrobe for training camp on Wednesday was the interview running back Najee Harris did with reporters. After skipping the media upon his arrival, Harris came out and shared his thoughts on the team as well as his contract situation.

Harris has been very outspoken about the undervaluing of NFL running backs when it comes to contracts. Harris and other NFL backs are seeing the types of massive deals that receivers are getting and wondering out loud why they don’t have that same sort of value in the market.

Then Harris took it one step further and made the claim that he literally carried the Steelers offense some games.

“I wouldn’t say devalued,” Harris said. “They’re only devalued when it comes time to pay. They’re not devalued, though, if you look around. There are games where I literally carry the offense. It’s not really devalued, but when it comes time to pay, that’s when they want to devalue the position.”

Harris has six 100-yard rushing games in his three-year career. Harris has been incredibly reliable, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. Harris’ career high in rushing came in his second career game when he did carry the Steelers as he rushed for 188 yards against the Cleveland Browns in a 26-14 win.

It is unclear if Harris is playing his final season in Pittsburgh or not.

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Steelers RB Najee Harris with one-word answer to new contract talks

Najee Harris made it clear the Steelers have not talked about giving him a contract extension.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris reported to training camp on Wednesday despite not getting his fifth-year extension and no word of any sort of contract negotiations. Of course, just because we haven’t heard about contract talks doesn’t mean they aren’t happening.

But in this case, that’s exactly what it means. Harris slinked into the dorms at Latrobe and dodged the reporters but later returned and talked about all the contract topics. And when he was asked what the Steelers had said to him about a new contract, Harris offered up a concise one-word answer.

“Nothing.”

This really does make one wonder if the Steelers have just moved on from Harris and are just letting him play out the season and then move on.

If this is the case, we might see an expanded role for Jaylen Warren this season as the team prepares for the future or they might just give Harris a heavy workload before he rides off into the sunset.

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Steelers LB Elandon Roberts makes big entrance at training camp

Elandon Roberts showed up ready to work at Steelers training camp.

Last season, inside linebacker Elandon Roberts joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent, but it wasn’t clear just how much of a factor he would be. By the end of the season, he was the last inside linebacker standing and easily the best of the three the team added.

On Wednesday, Roberts showed back up at training camp, making an entrance as big as Texas. Roberts said that the physicality of camp last year came as a surprise but really prepared him for what to expect this season and he’s ready for it.

“Personally, last year, I was like, ‘Dang, we really be tackling in camp.’ I was cool with it, but I wasn’t expecting it,” Roberts said. “So just being able to see that last year, go through a year of training camp. This year it’s kind of like, let’s get the ball rolling.”

Pittsburgh got Roberts some help in the middle this offseason, signing Pro Bowler Patrick Queen to a huge contract in free agency.

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Steeler RB Najee Harris on not getting his fifth-year option: ‘I was disappointed for a minute’

Najee Harris made it seem like him not getting his fifth-year option wasn’t his idea.

After skipping the media upon entering the dorms at training camp, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris addressed the media and the topic of his contract had to come up. Harris hadn’t spoken to the media since rumors swelled that he was the one who asked not to have his fifth-year option so he would pursue free agency at the end of the season.

Harris was asked if he was disappointed that the team didn’t pick up his option and he did say, “I was disappointed for a minute” but then followed it up by focusing on the season and admitting that helping the team be successful is most important right now.

Harris seemed like a slam dunk to get his fifth-year option after rushing for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. No running back had ever accomplished such a feat. But it is great to see Harris at camp and seemingly ready to get to work.

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Steelers RB Najee Harris skips steps, reporters heading into training camp

Najee Harris wasn’t ready to talk to the media yet as he reported to training camp.

The Pittsburgh Steelers players reported to training camp on Wednesday. One player everyone was waiting anxiously to see was running back Najee Harris. Most players who arrive at Latrobe take it as their first opportunity in weeks to talk to the media and share their excitement for the start of training camp.

But not for running back Najee Harris. Harris showed up at camp and instead of taking the stairs past the media, Harris navigated the grass with his luggage in tow and opted not to speak to any reporters as he hustled into the dorms like some sort of walk of shame.

Harris is avoiding the press so he doesn’t have to address the rumors that he asked the team not to give him his fifth-year option so he could instead play out the season and then leave the team in free agency. There’s been no denial of this from Harris or the team, but it’s something he will eventually have to answer to.

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