The Steelers’ first padded practice of camp finally gave everyone something that actually looks like football.
After all the time spent watching players work around in lighter gear, Pittsburgh was back in shoulder pads, thigh pads and helmets. The change was enough to make the whole thing feel real again, and it was a welcome sight after so much time away from full contact work.
The biggest early win came from first-round pick Max Iheanachor, who had his share of rough moments going against Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt but also showed plenty to like.
His length and athleticism stood out, and his quickness and footwork drew attention as well. His hand usage remains a work in progress, but the overall package was encouraging.
Mike DeFabo of The Athletic compared Iheanachor’s first day in pads to Broderick Jones, and said it went much better for Iheanachor. There was also a sense that longtime offensive line coach James Campen may already be making an impact after spending several months working with him.
Nick Farabaugh also highlighted one of Iheanachor’s stronger snaps, posting that the rookie mirrored Highsmith well when the veteran tried to work inside. For a player just starting his NFL career in pads, it was a strong opening statement.
Aaron Rodgers, meanwhile, became the center of a different kind of conversation after his appearance on Pat McAfee’s show. What had seemed like a quieter, more controlled stretch for Rodgers shifted quickly when he went on rants about his dislike of Anthony Fauci and then took shots at Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini and ESPN in general.
Steelers PR chief Burt Lauten responded quickly with a statement separating the organization from Rodgers’ comments while defending his right to free speech. The bigger question, though, is not what Rodgers says.
It’s whether he does what he needs to do to win games.
Social media has its usual mess attached to it, but it also gives fans a look at camp life that used to be hidden. That includes the posts from players’ wives and girlfriends, which have become one of the more interesting parts of following training camp online.
Cole Holcomb’s wife and Sebastian Joseph-Day’s wife have been especially active, offering a glimpse of what life looks like while the players are away. The point is simple: these guys still have ordinary lives when they leave the field.
In Joseph-Day’s case, his wife even had to take out the trash, and she was not thrilled about it.
There were a few other camp notes floating around as well. Malik Harrison appears to be trending toward looking for a new team, with fewer linebacker reps as camp continues.
Ike Taylor was at camp yesterday, and his relationship with the late Dan Rooney is worth revisiting if you haven’t seen that story before. Bijan Robinson also reset the running back market by signing for three years and $75 million, with $51 million guaranteed.
And while plenty of people may not like how the Los Angeles Dodgers are handling things, the argument here was that they’re simply playing by the rules MLB has set. On the Steelers’ side, Darnell Washington continues to draw attention after losing over 40 pounds and still looking like a monster.
Rodgers also said he will play in the first two preseason games, against Green Bay and the New York Jets - his two former teams.
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Aaron Rodgers Just Dragged The Steelers Into Another NFL Firestorm
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For the Steelers, it is another reminder that Rodgers is never far from the conversation, even as the focus in Pittsburgh keeps turning toward football planning and what comes next. The teams 2026 preseason schedule is already on the books, and with that season set to be Rodgers final year in the league, every headline around him carries a little more weight than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Forced To Address Aaron Rodgers After Latest Off Field Outburst
Aaron Rodgers latest appearance on The Pat McAfee Show stirred up more than the usual offseason chatter after he went after Dr. Anthony Fauci, pointing to Faucis Senate testimony and bringing up the Fifth Amendment. For the Steelers, it became another reminder that having a high-profile quarterback means every off-field comment can land back at the organizations doorstep, especially when the conversation turns political or personal.
Pittsburgh responded with a carefully worded statement, defending Rodgers right to express his own views while making clear the team does not necessarily share them. It is a familiar kind of balancing act for the Steelers, who have dealt with a similar situation before involving backup quarterback Mason Rudolph, and it puts the club back in the position of managing the message as much as the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Secondary Concern Is Already Testing Mike McCarthy
The first padded practices under new head coach Mike McCarthy have brought the kind of early buzz the Steelers hoped for, with the new setup drawing positive reviews around the team. Even so, one area still stands out as a work in progress, and it is hard to ignore when the defense starts to show its shape in camp.
Safety remains the lingering concern, especially because the current group is built more for work near the line of scrimmage than for handling deep-field responsibilities. McCarthy has already acknowledged the issue is being addressed, and while the staff is looking for answers, the room still feels like one of the more unsettled spots on the roster as the regular season approaches. [Read more 🡒]