After multiple veterans got a rest day Saturday, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a number of players return to practice Sunday at training camp.
QB Aaron Rodgers, TE Jonnu Smith, DL Keeanu Benton, DL Cam Heyward, C Ryan McCollum, SS DeShon Elliott, WR DK Metcalf and EDGE T.J. Watt were all back on the field on after not practicing on Saturday. Watt and Heyward didn’t work in team though, as the team prioritized giving reps to younger players.
OLB Alex Highsmith left practice with a potential groin injury that will be evaluated, Mike Tomlin said, according to TribLive’s Joe Rutter. Highsmith suffered a groin injury in Week 3 of last season that caused him to miss three games, and he also missed a game in 2021 with a groin injury.
FB/TE DJ Thomas-Jones, who was carted off the field last Sunday with a lower-body injury, returned to practice on Sunday, a positive development as he looks to crack Pittsburgh’s initial 53-man roster.
There were still a few players who remained out with injuries on Sunday, most notably CB Joey Porter Jr. and WR Calvin Austin III. Austin didn’t practice yesterday, but Mike Tomlin didn’t single him out as a player expected to miss multiple days. Tomlin said Porter is expected back soon.
CB Cory Trice Jr. and OT Calvin Anderson, who suffered injuries more significant than “day-to-day,” also did not practice on Sunday. Nor did CB Donte Kent, who also missed practice on Saturday. The seventh-round pick out of Central Michigan is battling for a spot in a crowded Steelers cornerback room. Kent had a boot on his right foot, signaling a potential ankle/foot injury.
In addition to Anderson, OT Gareth Warren also did not practice for the Steelers.
OT Broderick Jones, who had been limited after suffering a groin injury last Sunday, and OG Isaac Seumalo, who was activated off the non-football injury list on Thursday, were full participants in practice today.
DL Esezi Otomewo didn’t practice after suffering an injury in Wednesday’s practice, but he worked off to the side and was in a jersey and helmet, per Alex Kozora, a good sign that he could be nearing a return.
TE Pat Freiermuth got the day off on Sunday. It may have been a veteran day off after Smith got one yesterday, which would make the first veteran day off for Freiermuth this training camp.
The Steelers have Monday off, which should allow players dealing with bumps and bruises another day to heal before the team hits the field on Tuesday. Pittsburgh will play its first preseason game Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, so this week will be a nice ramp up to the team’s first in-stadium action.
