Training camp is nearly in the books for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the picture out of Latrobe is starting to sharpen. With Mike McCarthy in place as the team’s new head coach for his first summer at camp, several players made real cases for themselves, while others left with plenty to clean up before roster decisions arrive.
The biggest takeaway from camp is simple: some guys helped themselves, and some didn’t. With two preseason games still to go, the players who stumbled still have a window to turn things around. Those who stood out, meanwhile, have put themselves in position to stick.
Among the biggest risers was Asante Samuel Jr., who took full advantage of his first-team reps. With Joey Porter Jr. unavailable in practice, Samuel turned in the strongest showing of any player on the field. The Steelers should feel good about what they saw, because Samuel didn’t just help his case for a roster spot - he also made a push for playing time on defense this season.
Robert Tonyan also came out of camp in good shape. Pittsburgh needed a tight end to settle out the depth chart, and Tonyan looks like the answer. His ties to Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy make him an even more natural fit, and while he didn’t exactly steal the show, he was steady enough to keep himself in the mix for a job.
Another player who helped his stock was Robert Spears-Jennings. He didn’t light things up when he got first-team snaps, but the organization clearly likes what it sees.
He backed that up with a solid performance in the first preseason game, and the rookie safety may have done enough to secure a roster spot. He’ll need more proof over the final two preseason games, but he leaves camp in a good position.
Broderick Jones also deserves a spot among the winners. Few expected him to be available this summer, much less productive, but he handled a tough situation well and put together an effective stretch of practices in Latrobe. He still needs to get into football shape, but the effort and urgency were there as he heads into a contract year.
Daylen Everette made noise too. The rookie cornerback, one of Pittsburgh’s third-round picks this spring, showed he belongs at this level and could be in line for playing time. There were some typical rookie mistakes along the way, but he held up well and built on a strong summer that started before camp even opened.
Spencer Anderson rounded out the winners by taking control of the right guard battle early. That competition was supposed to be one of the camp storylines, but Anderson shut it down fast and pushed Brock Hoffman into more of a depth role. He still has to prove himself every week, but for now he has a firm hold on the job.
On the other side of the ledger, Joey Porter Jr. had a rough summer from a financial and physical standpoint. While others from his draft class got extensions this offseason and preseason, he is still waiting. He missed the entire training camp with a “back” issue, and unless a contract comes together, that injury does not appear to be going away anytime soon.
Kaleb Johnson also took a sharp turn in the wrong direction. The third-round pick from last year has slipped down the depth chart and now looks unlikely to make the roster. If Pittsburgh moves on, there’s at least the possibility of a trade return, but the way things have gone for the young running back has been hard to watch.
Malik Harrison found himself on the wrong side of the numbers once the Steelers signed Elandon Roberts before their first preseason game. Even without that move, Harrison already looked like a long shot. Pittsburgh never seemed like the right fit for him, and the expectation is that he’ll become a cap casualty when camp wraps up.
Gennings Dunker lands in the loser category more for stagnation than poor play. He spent most of camp with the third-team offense, and the Steelers appeared to be taking a cautious approach with his development as he shifts from tackle to guard in the pros. He’s not in trouble, but it was a little disappointing not to see more movement from him.
Dean Lowry closes out the list, and the warning signs are there. When a veteran’s name barely comes up during camp, that usually tells the story.
His ties inside the organization may help, but they may not be enough to save him. Lowry’s experience would be useful on the defensive line, but younger players are pressing him hard.
If he doesn’t play at a high level over the final two preseason games, he could be cut.
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