The Steelers came out of their preseason opener with a win, but the first training camp practice back at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe brought a fresh wave of injury concerns.
Wide receiver Brandon Smith was out entirely on August 15 after leaving the Green Bay game with a lower-body injury on a punt. Fellow receiver Kaden Wetjen also was limited, working to the side with trainers, while defensive back Israel Mukuamu headed to the locker room with what looked like a lower-body issue of his own.
At the moment, Pittsburgh’s injury picture is getting crowded, and that could complicate things as the team moves toward its final two preseason games. The exact severity of the injuries to Smith, Wetjen and Mukuamu is still unclear.
Wetjen, a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft out of Iowa, was one of the bright spots against the Packers. He broke loose for a 75-yard catch and also hauled in a four-yard touchdown.
Smith finished with two receptions for 13 yards before getting hurt. The 27-year-old, who also went to Iowa, had been one of the more notable stories in camp before the preseason opener, though what comes next for him isn’t known.
Those two receivers now join DK Metcalf (unspecified) and Michael Pittman Jr. (lower-body) among the Pittsburgh pass-catchers who have dealt with injuries over the past week.
Mukuamu also made his presence felt in the opener, logging a sack against Green Bay over 17 total snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. A sixth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2021 out of South Carolina, he spent his first four NFL seasons playing under McCarthy and then reunited with him after signing a one-year deal with Pittsburgh on August 5.
The secondary is banged up as camp winds down. Joey Porter Jr. (back), Jalen Ramsey (knee) and Donte Kent (knee) are still on the PUP list, and Brandin Echols remains sidelined with the ankle injury he picked up in practice on August 6.
Other players who were out of practice with previously reported injuries included offensive tackle Max Iheanachor (upper-body), safety Jaquan Brisker (unspecified) and defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day (unspecified).
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