Newly signed offensive lineman Trai Turner is talking about his decision to join the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Turner joined the NFL Network Tuesday. The 28-year-old guard seems confident that he’ll return to the Pro Bowl form he flashed throughout much of his career.
“I believe in my game. I think I’m a dominant run-blocker,” Turner told “NFL Total Access” host Omar Ruiz. “I think I’ve shown that throughout the years. I’m just excited to come in and just be with the group of guys and learn.”
Turner had been a Pro Bowl guard with the Carolina Panthers from 2015-19. But he was only able to play nine games with the Los Angeles Chargers last year while dealing with a lingering groin injury.
This offseason he has been training with a former NFL Hall of Famer to get in top condition.
“I’ve been working out with Jackie Slater. We’ve been working out in Orange, California,” Turner said. “I set up shop out there for my own personal minicamp and OTAs. I didn’t sign until recently. So I had time to take advantage of some skills I specifically needed to improve. Just make sure that the body was healthy and get mentally refreshed.”
The Steelers signed Turner shortly after the organization released former All-Pro guard David DeCastro. It was learned during minicamp that DeCastro needed another ankle surgery.
Now Turner is hoping to bring some of the same traits DeCastro did during his eight years in Pittsburgh.
“Smashmouth,” Turner said. “Get out and pull. Get in space and run. Just have a little bit of fun. It’s fun when you’re throwing touchdowns. But I think it’s fun when you’re able to run them, too.”
Because the Steelers are allegedly attempting to rediscover a previous commitment to the running game, Turner thinks he’s joining the franchise at the right time.
“It’s just one of those teams, they always compete,” Turner added. “(They are) always in the game, and play my style of football.”
Turner said he is especially excited to block for rookie running back Najee Harris.
“He’s a very big guy,” Turner continued. “But he can move. I’m excited to see him push some piles forward. I’m excited to see him fall forward for that extra yard.”
Based on how the Steelers run game went last year (an NFL-worst 84.4 yards per game), forget falling forward for an “extra” yard. I’ll be satisfied if Harris falls forward for any yards at all.
And I’ll be more than happy if Turner stays upright for 17 games as the guy plowing forward to help him do so.
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