2025 Steelers Camp Recap - Day 6 Notes

After storms washed out the Steelers’ first padded practice yesterday, the team shifted indoors to keep the momentum rolling.

But today was a whole different vibe—sunshine and sticky humidity greeted the squad as they finally hit the field at St. Vincent College for their first outdoor padded session.

Training camp headlines? Let’s talk a tough outing for a rookie running back, a fiery Pro Bowl-level showdown, and a seventh-round linebacker who was absolutely everywhere, making splash plays like he’s been in the league for years.

So, Steelers Fans, let's go!

Injury Report

Ahead of yesterday’s training camp session, the Steelers announced the release of linebacker Jeremiah Moon, wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig, and veteran running back, Cordarrelle Patterson

On a more encouraging note, offensive tackle Broderick Jones returned to action, working with the first-team offense after being sidelined with a hip injury. Although Jones took part in individual drills, he did not participate in team sessions. Veteran tackle Calvin Anderson stepped in during his absence.

New to the injury list was linebacker Eko Leota, who sustained a lower leg injury during team sessions.

Day 6 Camp Notes -

Joey Porter Jr. - The Run Stopper

In previous training camps, tackling had been a noted area of concern for third-year cornerback Joey Porter Jr. But early in this year’s team sessions, he showed signs of turning the corner—opening with three consecutive stops, including an impressive takedown of wide receiver Diontae Johnson.

Robinson Makes an Impact on Defense

Linebacker Mark Robinson was a standout name throughout today's session. Entering training camp, the 2022 seventh-round pick was widely viewed as being on the roster bubble. But after today’s performance, it was clear he had no plans of fading quietly.

Robinson consistently won one-on-one matchups and disrupted plays during team drills, showing both grit and explosiveness. Of all the players on the field, he made arguably the strongest impression—sending a message that he’s ready to compete.

Ramsey vs Metcalf (Round 1)

One of the most highly anticipated matchups during team sessions featured two elite All-Pros—cornerback Jalen Ramsey and wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. In their one-on-one reps, Ramsey came out on top, locking down Metcalf and forcing an incompletion in a tightly contested battle.

Rough Outing For Rookie Johnson

As is often the case with rookies, growing pains are expected during training camp—and Kaleb Johnson’s first day in pads fit that narrative. The undrafted running back struggled early, getting shut down by linebacker Malik Harrison in the "Seven Shots" drill and falling short in three consecutive one-on-one reps against him. He was also stuffed behind the line of scrimmage twice—first by cornerback Joey Porter Jr., then by linebacker Nick Herbig.

Still, Johnson showed resilience, finishing the day strong in team sessions—a promising sign that the rough start may have been just a brief stumble rather than a long-term concern.

Herbig Continues Winning

One consistent theme from today’s session: linebacker Nick Herbig living in the backfield. His talent has been unquestioned since his rookie season, but now he’s showing signs of truly breaking out—an alarming prospect for opposing offenses.

Herbig's disruptive presence was felt early and often, and for what it’s worth, he was the first player to hit the field—setting the tone for an intense day of work.

Fautanu Gets The Best of Watt

It’s rare to see an offensive lineman consistently get the better of All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt—but Troy Fautanu might just be the exception. Last year, the rookie tackle held his own in most of their one-on-one matchups, and nearly a year later, that trend hasn’t changed. Fautanu continued to win reps against Watt during today’s session, reinforcing the idea that he may be Watt’s kryptonite.

UDFA Rookie Williams Impressing The Masses

Rookie wide receiver Ke’Shawn Williams had flown under the radar through the first four days of training camp, but made a memorable impression ahead of practice. During punt returner drills, Williams showcased impressive hand-eye coordination and concentration—successfully catching six footballs at once. Fellow wideout Calvin Austin III matched the feat, adding to the buzz around the unique drill and setting a high bar for special teams reps.