Mike Tomlin: Kenny Pickett, first-teamers will 'play more' in Steelers' 2nd preseason game

After playing one series and getting 10 snaps in the preseason opener, quarterback Kenny Pickett will get more work Saturday night when the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium.

How much more work? Stay tuned, coach Mike Tomlin said, referring not just to Pickett but the team’s other starters.

“We’ll play it by ear,” Tomlin said Thursday before the Steelers’ final training camp workout at Saint Vincent College. “I acknowledge those guys will play, and I’ll also acknowledge they will play more. What that is, as I stand here right now, I’d be lying if I gave you a direct answer.”

Tomlin said three injured players definitely won’t dress against the Bills: defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, defensive back Tre Norwood and guard/center Nate Herbig. Ogunjobi suffered a foot injury before the preseason opener. Herbig injured his shoulder this week, and Norwood just recently returned to practice after missing the opener with a right calf injury.

“We expect to play all healthy players,” Tomlin said.

That includes veterans who were withheld from the opener in Tampa Bay. On defense, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, outside linebacker T.J. Watt, free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and cornerback Patrick Peterson will make their preseason debuts. In the secondary, safeties Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee and rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. will play after sitting out the opener with injuries.

Pickett completed 6 of 7 passes for 70 yards and finished off a 10-play, 83-yard drive by hooking up with wide receiver George Pickens on a 33-yard touchdown pass.

“It’s reasonable to expect him to be better in all areas given last week’s experience, the in-stadium experience,” Tomlin said about Pickett. “The process by which we go through to tee up a performance is something we want to capture and master.”

Tomlin also wants to look at running back Anthony McFarland as a kickoff returner and Calvin Austin on the punt return unit.

“We focused their efforts last weekend on their offensive contributions, particularly in the first half of the game,” Tomlin said. “We’re really going to be interested in the special teams contributions of those two guys this week.”

McFarland had a 14-yard touchdown run in the second quarter against Tampa Bay, and Austin flashed his speed on a 67-yard touchdown pass from Mason Rudolph in the third quarter.

The Steelers wrapped up their 56th training camp at Saint Vincent College with a light workout in which the players left their pads in storage. In the three weeks the Steelers spent at the Unity Township campus, Tomlin said the Steelers accomplished what they wanted, particularly after he sensed a “feeling in the air” when they reported.

“We’ve been talking a lot about not making things mystical,” Tomlin said. “We are responsible for the creation of a great day. We’re trying to take the mystique out of things. We’re not hoping to have a great day or hoping there is a positive vibe.

“We’re owning our roles in the creation of it, just like we own our roles in the creation of victory. We’re not rabbit’s foot-type of people in creating victory. That’s been in front of our radar that we’ve developed as a team in this process.”

What Tomlin didn’t see from his players was anything bordering a fight or skirmish at the end of a play. Those tussles typically are a mainstay of training camp when tempers get the better of players, particularly those trying to win a roster spot by standing up to an established veteran.

Keeping emotions in check was a priority this camp.

“We appreciate tough guys, but this is not an MMA team that we’re putting together,” he said. “Fights don’t help us win football games. We’ve been talking very black and white in that manner. And I appreciate guys being willing to make that posture or position real by adhering to it.”

With training camp in the books, the Steelers will spend the remaining portion of the preseason practicing at their facility on the South Side.

“We took steps forward,” outside linebacker Alex Highsmith said. “We all feel like it was a good camp. Last year, I got hurt during camp, so this year to come out of it healthy was important to me.”