Daily camp report: Second day in pads produces chippy practice for Steelers

Pads came out for the second day in a row for the Pittsburgh Steelers, leading to some feisty altercations during practice Tuesday at Saint Vincent.

Rookie wide receiver Calvin Austin took exception to NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt straddling him after the 5-foot-9 receiver was knocked to the ground after losing yards on a shovel pass. Austin charged toward Watt, but teammates wisely intervened before the 6-foot-4 Watt could make his retaliatory move.

A few plays earlier, Cameron Heyward delivered a hard shove to running back Benny Snell. Tempers also flared when defensive linemen squared off against the offensive linemen on an adjoining field.

All in a day’s work, coach Mike Tomlin said. Tomlin doesn’t like it when brawls erupt, but he doesn’t mind the competitive juices flowing in the right situation.

“Man, I was really pleased with today’s work,” Tomlin said. “I thought the competition and level of urgency was improved. I think that’s a natural thing when you’re in pads.”

A day after having his foot stepped on during practice, running back Najee Harris was held out of drills. He joins a list of players on the mend that includes wide receiver Chase Claypool (shoulder), tight end Pat Freiermuth (hamstring), running back Jeremy McNichols (shoulder), inside linebacker Marcus Allen (hamstring), safety Miles Killebrew (pectoral) and cornerback Levi Wallace (illness). Defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi (ankle) hasn’t debuted in team portions, while nose tackle Tyson Alualu (ankle) and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (wrist) remain on PUP and NFI lists, respectively.

General manager Omar Khan provided an update on some of the injured veterans. Regarding Fitzpatrick, who was injured falling off a bike while vacationing, Khan said he would be “surprised if you don’t see him on the practice field in the next few days.”

He also doesn’t expect the injuries to Ogunjobi and Alualu to “linger much longer.”

Khan signed Ogunjobi to a one-year, $8 million deal in June with the understanding that the former Browns and Bengals lineman would need some time to mend from offseason ankle surgery.

“We are just trying to be smart with the situation,” Khan said. “Larry O is ready to go. We’re just trying to be smart. We wouldn’t have signed him if we weren’t confident he would be ready to go.”