Well Steelers fans, it is that time of the year again.
After a long off-season filled with departures and new additions, the Pittsburgh Steelers
took to the field this afternoon for their first official training camp session.
Even without pads, the team took the field at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe for the first of what should be one of the most compelling and competitive training camps in recent memory.
The storylines for the first day of the Steelers camp include a quarterback on fire, two rookies already making a big impression, and a veteran that still has "it".
It's going to be a long training camp, Steelers fans, so let's go!
Injury Report
The start of this year's camp could not have gone any better, as there are zero players on the team's PUP list. During the session, however, receiver Diontae Johnson was reportedly "shaken" for a bit after making a highlight-worthy catch during one of the drills. As well, All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was not a full participant on the first day, as we was seen without a bucket.
Day 1 Camp Highlights and Top Performers
New Practice Jerseys Revealed -
As the players made their way to the field, they were sporting new practice jerseys, which were a throwback to the Steelers home and away jerseys from the 1960s.
Elijah Riley Gets One On Rudolph -
Safety Elijah Riley recorded the first interception of training camp against backup quarterback Mason Rudolph during one of the drills.
Kenny Pickett With A Strong First Day -
What a difference a year can make! Last year, quarterback Kenny Pickett struggled mightily in his first week of camp as a rookie. Today, Pickett looked like a seasoned veteran as he made completions to several pass catchers in various drills: Pat Freiermuth, Diontae Johnson, and even backup running back Anthony McFarland Jr.
Nick Herbig Made His Presence Felt -
As we expected, rookie Nick Herbig was a matchup nightmare for offensive tackle
Le'raven Clark, who surrendered two sacks against Herbig. One of the things we noted about Herbig in our film study was his natural ability to dip and bend underneath opposing offensive linemen. Based on this day, we have a feeling that he is going to make a name for himself at camp.
Joey Porter Jr. Looking Solid -
Nick Herbig wasn't the only rookie who flashed on the first day. According to reports, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. put together a good day, which included a couple of pass breakups. According to several reports, he was locking down receivers, including the speedy Calvin Austin III.
Patrick Peterson Still Has It -
Entering his 13th season, many have been wondering if cornerback Patrick Peterson lost
a step. Well, in this sequence described by Steelersnow.com analyst Nick Farabaugh, he recorded a pass breakup on last year's camp phenom, George Pickens. By all accounts, it looks like he can still keep up.
Diontae Johnson: The Human Highlight-
Receiver Diontae Johnson performed today like a man on a mission. To punctuate his impressive day, he made a highlight-worthy catch along the sidelines from Pickett.