Steelers fans got their first real look at camp on Wednesday, and the early buzz from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe came with a little bit of everything: a few encouraging signs, some shaky chemistry, and one notable veteran watching from the sideline.
It’s only Day 1, so nobody should sprint to a grand conclusion just yet. But with thousands of fans packed into the hills and plenty more tracking practice online, the opening session still gave a decent snapshot of who showed up looking sharp and who left more questions behind.
One of the loudest early winners was cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. The second-generation defensive back, who was a former second-round pick of the Chargers, reportedly looked far more like the player Steelers fans had been hoping to see.
Samuel, who had a quiet second half of the 2025 season in Pittsburgh, was credited with two pass breakups that fans in the stands caught on video. He broke on the ball quickly and seemed to be reading the play before it fully developed.
For a player entering his second season with the team, that’s exactly the kind of start you want.
Linebacker Patrick Queen also opened camp on a strong note after a rough finish to the 2025 season. Queen matched Samuel with a pair of passes defended, and one of the most notable plays came in the end zone, where he batted a ball into the air and a teammate came down with the interception. If coverage was the sore spot last year, this was at least a promising first step toward changing that story in 2026.
There was also a big win for Broderick Jones, even if it had less to do with a single rep and more to do with simply being out there. Jones, who is only months removed from spinal fusion surgery, avoided the dreaded PUP list and took the field as a full participant. He didn’t produce a headline-grabbing practice, but given the uncertainty around his availability, just being healthy enough to work was a major positive.
Receiver Brandon Smith made his case too. The 27-year-old wideout was described as one of the day’s standouts, turning in several impressive plays as he tries to fight his way onto the roster. For a player in that spot, momentum matters, and he’ll need more days like this one to keep his chances alive.
Quarterback Drew Allar landed on the winners side as well, though his first practice was hardly spotless. The third-round rookie had some errant throws and also saw a tipped pass turn into an interception.
Even so, he showed a willingness to attack the middle of the field and push the ball downfield, and that paid off with two big touchdowns. The best of the bunch came on the final play of practice, when he hit a touchdown down the seam.
Not everyone left Day 1 with momentum, though. Roman Wilson had a mixed outing, and the negatives outweighed the positives.
He did make a diving catch and flashed his acceleration, but there were multiple reports of timing issues with starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That’s not the kind of early camp report Wilson needed after a disappointing season that ended with him as a healthy scratch down the stretch.
Germie Bernard had a similar problem. The second-round rookie also struggled to get on the same page with Rodgers, and while some patience is fair as he adjusts, it still wasn’t the kind of opening practice anyone would have hoped for.
Then there’s Jalen Ramsey, whose presence on the sideline was the clearest concern of the day. Ramsey dealt with a knee injury earlier in the summer, and while surgery was avoided, the Steelers appear to be taking a cautious approach.
He could miss a few weeks, and there’s a real chance he won’t get on the field at all during camp. That’s not an ideal setup for a veteran working under a new defensive coordinator.
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Steelers Just Sent A Concerning Message About Will Howard
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Howard still has time to change the conversation once practices and preseason games begin, but the early setup suggests the staff is leaning toward experience while it sorts through the depth chart. For a team trying to settle its quarterback room, the next few weeks will matter, and Howard will need to make the most of every rep if he wants to force a different decision. [Read more 🡒]
One Steelers Receiver Is Forcing A Bigger Camp Conversation
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Joey Porter Jr. May Be Pricing Himself Into A Steelers Standoff
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For the Steelers, the challenge is bigger than one negotiation. They have to balance Porters demands against a growing list of future extensions, and every new deal around the league can ripple through their own planning. If the numbers keep climbing, the gap between what Pittsburgh is willing to pay and what Porter expects could widen further, turning a straightforward priority into the kind of standoff that lingers deeper into the offseason. [Read more 🡒]