LATROBE, Pa. -- The first four practices of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp under Mike McCarthy didn’t include pads, but that didn’t stop a few names from jumping out right away.
Some players made strong cases for themselves. Others opened the week with more questions than answers.
Asante Samuel Jr. was the clearest winner of the bunch. With Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey both on the PUP list, Samuel has been pushed into a starting role, and he has taken full advantage.
He was around the football constantly, stacking up acrobatic pass breakups day after day. His ball skills showed up no matter who he was covering, whether it was DK Metcalf or a receiver lower on the depth chart.
If Samuel keeps playing like that, the Steelers may have to rework a few things.
The wide receiver room also produced plenty of positives. Roman Wilson and Germie Bernard, both in the mix for the WR3 job, have continued to stand out.
Wilson, in particular, has looked like the offensive star of camp so far, even if his game is the kind that tends to shine in these no-pads settings. Rookie Kaden Wetjen has also found space more often than expected, including on a 35-yard catch from Will Howard on Thursday.
Brandon Smith and AT Perry have chipped in as well, giving Pittsburgh more receiver depth than it appeared to have heading into camp.
Spencer Anderson belongs on the winner side too, even if that kind of recognition is harder to earn without pads on. No one else has taken a starting right guard rep, and while the Steelers have rotated tackles, they have not done that at guard.
Brock Hoffman has been used at all three interior swing spots, and Gennings Dunker has stayed with the third team offensive line. Right now, Anderson looks to have a pretty comfortable grip on the starting right guard job.
On the other side of the ledger, safety depth looks shaky. DeShon Elliott is still limited as he works back from the knee injury that ended his season a year ago, and the group behind him has not done much to ease concerns.
Darnell Savage practiced in team periods on day one before his involvement dropped to limited work, and that ended with him being released. Rookie Robert Spears-Jennings got some first-team reps, but the results were not especially encouraging.
Rayshawn Jenkins is the notable depth name there, and the Steelers are hoping he can help fill the gaps left by Jaquan Brisker and Elliott.
Laith Marjan also had a rough start. He’s not fighting Chris Boswell for the job, but he did get his first chance to show what he could do on Saturday and missed two of three kicks. Boswell will be resting much of camp to protect his leg, so Marjan will get more chances to clean that up.
Malik Harrison’s situation has taken a clear turn for the worse. Inside linebacker looks different under the new staff, with Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen forming most of the first-team group and Cole Holcomb mixing in for base snaps next to Queen.
That has pushed Harrison down the chart. He’s now working with the third-team linebackers, and his special teams role has also been reduced.
At this point, there’s a real question about whether he makes the roster at all.
In Other News...
Roman Wilson Is Giving Steelers Fans A Real Reason To Watch
Roman Wilsons first two seasons in Pittsburgh did not go the way the Steelers or the receiver likely envisioned, but training camp has given him a fresh chance to change the conversation. The former third-round pick has shown encouraging progress, drawing more targets and looking sharper as a route runner while working to carve out a place in the offense.
Roman Wilson is still battling Germie Bernard for a receiver job, and the competition is very much alive. Even so, the early signs have been positive enough to make Wilson one of the more interesting names to follow as camp unfolds, with his push for a roster spot adding a little extra intrigue to the Steelers receiver picture. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Backfield Shift Is Putting Jaylen Warren In A Tough Spot
The first week of Steelers training camp has already offered a notable early signal in the backfield, with Rico Dowdle stepping into a prominent role as the team works through drills under new head coach Mike McCarthy. For a position group that looked different a year ago, the early pecking order matters, and Dowdles place with the starters has put a fresh spotlight on how Pittsburgh wants to sort out its running game before the real evaluations begin.
Jaylen Warren, meanwhile, is the obvious name watching this unfold, because a return to camp prominence for one back often comes at the expense of another. Pittsburgh still has time to sort through the rotation, and camp is built for exactly this kind of competition, but the early shape of the depth chart hints at a backfield conversation that could linger well beyond the first week. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers May Already Be Leaning Toward An Unexpected O-Line Starter
The first week of Steelers training camp has already offered a decent clue about one of the offenses biggest remaining questions. While most starting spots were largely settled, the right guard and right tackle jobs are still up for grabs, and Spencer Anderson has been the player handling all the first-team work at right guard so far.
For a former seventh-round pick from 2023, that is a notable step in a steady climb. Anderson has gradually earned a larger role since arriving in Pittsburgh, and the way the early reps have broken down suggests he is moving from useful depth piece to legitimate starter consideration as the team sorts out its line for the coming season and beyond. [Read more 🡒]