Inside the ropes: Cam Sutton gets 1st look as slot corner as Steelers expand search for starter

On a day when Antoine Brooks Jr. returned to practice for the first time since the Hall of Fame Game, the Pittsburgh Steelers worked Cam Sutton occasionally at the slot cornerback position Wednesday.

Brooks took first-team snaps and rotated with veteran Arthur Maulet in the first two weeks of training camp. Since Brooks’ injury, Maulet has worked with the starters, and he was back in that role at the start of the final practice in front of fans at Heinz Field.

Brooks, the second-year defensive back from Maryland, worked with the backups.

The addition of Sutton to the mix for the first time in training camp indicates the Steelers aren’t done exploring that option in subpackages as they search for Mike Hilton’s replacement in the slot.

Maulet had an interception of Josh Dobbs, but coach Mike Tomlin wasn’t ready to endorse him — or anyone else — for the starting job.

“I’m not ready to discuss that,” Tomlin said. “We have a lot of guys working there. We have options there that haven’t been working there. Today was the first day we put Cam Sutton inside. What you’re looking at might not be the only candidates.”

• Practice, at times, was conducted in a steady rain. Tomlin never considered switching the session to the indoor facility at UMPC Rooney Sports Complex.

“We embrace the inclement weather,” he said. “Our game is played in a variety of weather circumstances, and so the rain and wet ground gave us opportunities to focus on fundamentals in terms of ball security and, really, the opportunity at times that weather provides in ball searching.

“We had some good work. We’ll take it however it comes to us.”

• Ben Roethlisberger, Dwayne Haskins and Josh Dobbs each threw interceptions to, respectively, Mile Killebrew, Mark Gilbert and Maulet.

Tomlin termed the ball security as “rather solid” and was more concerned how the receivers responded to the rainy conditions.

“I saw people not trusting their hands in the passing game, making body catches and going down to make catches when they could have stayed on their feet,” he said.

• After dispensing with “Seven Shots” for the second day in a row, the Steelers immediately went into team periods. The first session began with Mason Rudolph taking the opening snaps with the first team, followed by Haskins and then Roethlisberger, who was with the second unit.

Nothing to see here, Tomlin said, when asked about the odd rotation.

“We just like for you guys to ask questions, and we did it for our own enjoyment,” he said.

• Special teams were emphasized during practice, and Chris Boswell attempted field goals into the open end zone from distances exceeding 50 yards.

At one point, Roethlisberger jumped in for a rep and held for Boswell, who converted from about 35 yards. Punters Pressley Harvin III and Jordan Berry alternated as holders.

• In one team session, Roethlisberger faked a pitch left, turned and hit Diontae Johnson coming across the right. Johnson made a toe-tapping grab on the right sideline.

• Dan Moore Jr. subbed in for right tackle Zach Banner for several plays as the Steelers continue to get a look at the rookie fourth-rounder as a potential swing tackle.

• Joe Schobert had some miscommunication on one play of his third practice with the Steelers. This left tight end Kevin Rader open, and Rudolph hit him across the middle for a long gain.

• Benny Snell, getting extensive work in 11-on-11 after missing time with an injury, took a shotgun draw handoff from Roethlisberger and broke free up for the middle about 15-20 yards before he was touched.