The Pittsburgh Steelers turned Saturday Night Lights into a showcase for a few players who needed one, and a couple of them answered the bell in a big way.
At Latrobe Memorial Stadium, with a packed crowd on hand, the Steelers got the kind of practice that can change the temperature around a roster bubble. Brandon Smith kept forcing his way into the conversation, Broderick Jones put together his best stretch in a while, and Drew Allar finally flashed the kind of touch that has had Pittsburgh so intrigued.
Smith has been impossible to ignore whenever he’s on the field. The 27-year-old undrafted free agent from Mike McCarthy’s Dallas Cowboys in 2021 looked like one of the best players out there no matter where you lined him up.
He was consistently getting open, tracking everything thrown his way and landing exactly where the quarterback wanted him. The fact that he’s picked up first-team reps at times says plenty about how the coaching staff sees him, even with the reality that the 53-man roster may not have much room for another receiver.
Still, Smith is making that decision a lot tougher than expected.
Jones, meanwhile, badly needed a clean day after a camp that has been rocky as he works back from the neck injury he suffered last season and the spinal fusion surgery that followed. He delivered in front of the lively crowd.
Jones stacked together a handful of strong reps, including one in which he stopped Nick Herbig in his tracks, and he moved well without giving up any ugly losses. It’s a step in the right direction, even if he still has a steep climb ahead of him in the race for the right tackle job.
The Steelers’ young quarterbacks had been quiet over the previous couple of practices, but Allar was the one who really changed the tone here. Will Howard was better than he had been in recent days at Saint Vincent College, but Allar’s growth stood out more.
Earlier in practice, his placement and footwork still looked shaky. Then 11-on-11 work arrived, and the third-round rookie started to settle in.
Allar hit Smith on a deep ball down the sideline that got a big reaction from the crowd, then later found Robert Tonyan on a wheel route for a huge gain. His touch looked better than it had before, and that mattered because the Steelers have made no secret of how much they believe in the 22-year-old Penn State product, even with plenty of work still ahead.
On the defensive line, the Steelers’ depth in the middle continues to look like a real strength. Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, Sebastian Joseph-Day and Yahya Black form a loaded core, and the competition for the last one or two spots is bringing out the best in the rest of the group.
Dean Lowry kept building on what has already been a strong camp, batting down a pass early in team work and generating push in his one-on-one reps. Gabriel Rubio also kept flashing the raw strength that has shown up throughout camp, while undrafted rookie Kevin Jobity Jr. had a few notable moments as a pass rusher. Even Kyler Baugh, whose path to the 53-man roster looks extremely unlikely, made himself noticed a few times.
That battle for the final spots has turned the interior line into one of the more interesting competitions in camp, and it’s setting the Steelers up for some difficult roster decisions when cuts come.
In Other News...
Drew Allar Is Giving Steelers Fans A Reason To Watch Closely
Drew Allar has been one of the more interesting developments in Steelers camp, the kind of rookie quarterback who can make a practice field feel a little more consequential. He has turned heads with a strong showing in training camp, drawing notice for the way he has handled live reps and for the poise that has stood out to the coaching staff.
Mike McCarthy and Brian Angelichio have both spoken positively about Allars progress, and the first live preseason game against the Packers will offer a better look at how that growth translates when the hits are real. The deep ball remains a focal point in his early work, and the idea of watching him carry that camp momentum into game action gives Pittsburgh plenty to keep an eye on. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Pittman Jr Sees Something Different In Steelers Offense
Michael Pittman Jr. has barely had time to settle in after arriving in Pittsburgh via an offseason trade from Indianapolis, but he already sounds encouraged by what he has seen in training camp. The veteran receiver has spoken positively about Aaron Rodgers and the direction of the offense, and he sees a group around him that could give the Steelers a different look this season.
Pittman singled out the potential in the receiving room, including DK Metcalf, as part of what makes the unit intriguing. From his perspective, the mix of talent gives Pittsburgh a more varied attack, and he believes the offense has the ingredients to be something special if it all comes together. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Night Practice Put Their Defensive Upgrades In The Spotlight
The Steelers annual night practice at St. Vincent College drew nearly 8,500 fans and gave the crowd a better look at how this roster might come together on defense. Behind veterans Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, the young quarterbacks Drew Allar and Will Howard showed promising moments, but the more noticeable gains came on the other side of the ball, where the secondary looked sharper and more disruptive than it has at times in camp.
Jamel Deans interception return for a touchdown stood out as the play of the night, and rookie Daylen Everette added to the impression that the defensive backfield is trending in a better direction. Payton Wilson and Derrick Harmon also turned in notable work, enough to suggest the Steelers may be starting to see some early returns on the defensive upgrades theyve been building toward this summer. [Read more 🡒]