Pittsburgh’s training camp has barely gotten rolling, and already the Steelers may be dealing with their first injury concern.
Safety Darnell Savage has not been on the field for 11-on-11 work during the team’s last two practices, which has raised questions about whether he’s dealing with something physical. He was one of the early standouts when camp opened at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, taking first-team reps with DeShon Elliott out and looking like a player who could make a real push for a role in the secondary.
Savage, who signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh in March, did not have that agreement made official until early June. Mike DeFabo of The Athletic said on the “SNR Drive” podcast in late April that the delay stemmed from a medical issue, though neither Savage nor the team addressed that at the time.
Even while he’s been held out of team drills, Savage has still worked through individual periods. That matters in a secondary that’s already thin on the health front, with Donte Kent Jr., Jalen Ramsey and Joey Porter Jr. all starting camp on the PUP list.
For Pittsburgh, the hope is simple: Savage is not dealing with anything serious and can get back on the field soon as he tries to lock down a 53-man roster spot. If this is an injury situation, though, it could undercut the momentum he built early and make it harder for him to establish himself as the Steelers’ best No. 3 safety option.
There’s a real opportunity sitting there. With Ramsey recovering from the knee injury he suffered during training camp, one of Pittsburgh’s safeties has a chance to prove he can handle meaningful work behind Jaquan Brisker and Elliott.
Savage has been the favorite over Sebastian Castro and Robert Spears-Jennings because of his experience. The 29-year-old has appeared in 97 games and made 83 starts in the NFL, with 371 tackles and 10 interceptions to his name.
Jenkins’ addition to the roster only makes the battle tougher, especially if the Steelers intend to use Ramsey heavily at safety as a hybrid defender while also keeping him as their primary slot cornerback.
Savage still brings range and some special teams value, but his play has declined in recent years. If he’s currently dealing with an injury, that only adds more pressure to a camp battle where every snap matters and the other depth options are waiting for their chance.
In Other News...
Pat Freiermuth Turned An Ugly Steelers Camp Scene Into A Feel-Good Moment
Training camp already has enough edge without the stands getting involved, but a chaotic autograph session near the practice field briefly turned ugly when a fight broke out among fans. What could have been a routine summer stop for Steelers supporters instead became a scene of shouting and scrambling, with the altercation erupting close enough to the players that it was caught on video and quickly spread beyond Latrobe.
In the middle of all that mess, Pat Freiermuth ended up making the kind of split-second move that has nothing to do with catches or red-zone targets. The Steelers tight end pulled a young child away from the fray to get the kid out of harms way, and the melee was broken up shortly after. For a team that spends camp trying to build momentum on the field, it was a reminder that sometimes the most important play of the day happens well away from the snap. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Backfield Shift Is Putting Jaylen Warren In A Tough Spot
Training camp in Pittsburgh has already offered one of the more notable changes in the early days of the Mike McCarthy era. Rico Dowdle has been working ahead of Jaylen Warren in team drills and with the first offense, a setup that looks different from what the backfield hierarchy looked like a year ago and suggests the Steelers are at least testing a new order in the room.
For Warren, the challenge is obvious: he is no longer being treated like the automatic lead option, and the early camp reps are reflecting that. The move also puts a spotlight on how McCarthy wants to structure the ground game as the week goes on, with the running back rotation suddenly becoming one of the more interesting depth-chart battles to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers May Already Be Leaning Toward An Unexpected O-Line Starter
The Steelers came into training camp with most of their starting lineup settled, but the right side of the offensive line still has some sorting out to do. Right guard and right tackle remain open competitions, and early in camp Spencer Anderson has emerged as the name to watch on the interior.
Anderson has reportedly handled all of the first-team reps at right guard during the first week of practice, a sign he may be moving to the front of the line for the job. The seventh-round pick from 2023 has steadily carved out a bigger role since arriving in Pittsburgh, and his development now has him in position to push for a starting spot with an eye toward becoming a full-time answer down the road. [Read more 🡒]