The Pittsburgh Steelers conducted their fourth and final practice of the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex portion of training camp Sunday.
When the team reconvenes Tuesday after a day off, the work will be done at Heinz Field for the remainder of camp.
“That really signifies the start of training camp, if you will,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We’ll turn the volume up.”
On Wednesday, fans will be permitted to watch practice, and that coincides with players donning pads for the first time. Per NFL rules, the first five practices of camp are unpadded and are considered a heat acclimation period for players.
“We got a lot of good work done out here, laid foundational things, established some codes of conduct and familiarized them with the schedule of how we work not only on the field but in the classroom,” Tomlin said.
Veterans Stephon Tuitt and T.J. Watt haven’t participated in team activities yet. Same for second-year guard Kevin Dotson, and tackles Chuks Okorafor and Zach Banner have been limited in their participation for the past three days.
Banner is returning from ACL surgery but has not had a setback, Tomlin said.
“We’re excited about where he is, and we’ll keep moving forward with this process,” he said. “Some of the guys you’ve maybe had questions about participation, it will pick up as we transition to the stadium.”
After being excused from practice Saturday to attend to a personal matter, rookie center Kendrick Green returned Sunday. B.J. Finney also practiced a day after he left early with an injury.
J.C. Hassenauer, listed as the first-team center on the preseason depth chart, did not practice Sunday and had his leg heavily wrapped. Tomlin said Hassenauer is day-to-day.
Second-year nickel corner Antoine Brooks Jr. was assisted off the field before the end of practice, but Tomlin said the injury “is not” serious.
