On Sports: Steelers, Bucs finalizing joint camp practice; Livvy Dunne does split on swimsuit runway
Tuesday’s “On Sports” highlights a joint venture between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a look at how Livvy Dunne stole the show at the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue runway event, and North Allegheny grad Cole Young’s special moment when he got called up to the majors.
Working jointly
For the second consecutive preseason, the Steelers apparently will conduct a joint practice session (or sessions) with another NFL team.
After running with the Buffalo Bills for a day last year, this August the Steelers and Buccaneers will practice together. That’s according to Bucs coach Todd Bowles, who revealed during an appearance on the Pewter Report podcast that his team is “finalizing joint practices with both the Titans and the Steelers during training camp.”
#Bucs head coach Todd Bowles broke some news on the @PewterReport Podcast - the Buccaneers are finalizing joint practices with both the Titans and the Steelers during training camp.
Tampa Bay hosts Tennessee on Aug. 9 and travels to Pittsburgh on Aug. 16 in the preseason.
— PewterReport ????☠️ (@PewterReport) June 2, 2025
Tampa Bay opens its preseason schedule Aug. 9 at home against the Tennessee Titans and plays at the Steelers seven days later. For the Steelers, that 7 p.m. Aug. 16 game is their lone preseason game at Acrisure Stadium.
Last year, the Steelers and Bills practiced at that venue two days before their preseason meeting there. In the past, joint practices involving the Steelers were held at Saint Vincent College in Unity. The Steelers traditionally break camp in the days before their second preseason game.
The Steelers complete their preseason Aug. 21 at the Carolina Panthers. Their coach, Dave Canales, had publicly expressed interest in a joint practice with the Steelers. But the tight turnaround (four days off between games for both teams) likely made that untenable.
The Panthers and Houston Texans will conduct joint practices in advance of their Aug. 16 preseason game in Houston.
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Split decision
Two days after her beau’s birthday, Livvy Dunne stole the show on the runway during a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue event during Miami Swim Week over the past weekend.
Dunne, who of course is dating Pirates superstar pitcher Paul Skenes, fell into a full split at the edge of the runway. A former gymnast at LSU, Dunne posted on Instagram, “practice makes perfect :),” splicing a clip of her performing the move while fully clothed in what appeared to be a large conference room.
Dunne adorns one of the four covers for the annual SI swimsuit issue that was released last month.
Skenes turned 23 on Thursday, a little more than a year after making his MLB debut for the Pirates. Skenes is scheduled to start Tuesday night’s Pirates game against the Houston Astros.
A proud call home
Speaking of MLB debuts, the Seattle Mariners on Monday posted on social media the phone calls that North Allegheny alumnus Cole Young made to his parents and brother after he’d been told he was getting promoted from Triple-A to the majors.
Young, a middle infielder taken No. 21 overall in the 2022 draft, made his MLB debut Saturday. The night before, Young was pulled from a game playing for the Tacoma Rainiers and told he was headed to Seattle.
The club filmed him, clearly emotional, making calls to excited family members.
The phone call of a lifetime ????
Cole Young called his parents and brother after getting the call to the bigs. #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/tL9BYyWGV1
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) June 3, 2025
Young had a memorable first big-league game, starting at second base and having a hit, a walk and the walk-off fielder’s choice for a win in the 11th inning.
In his high school career, Young batted .428 with a .554 on-base percentage and a 1.320 OPS. He scored 73 runs and drove in 64 RBIs in 73 career games with 17 doubles, nine triples and 11 home runs.
All-spring for ex-Steelers
A trio of former Steelers — including two at a current position of need for the club — were among those named to the all-UFL team released by the spring football league Monday.
Wide receivers Deon Cain and Tyler Vaughns and punter Brad Wing received the most votes at their respective positions by a panel of UFL league and team executives, coaches and players from all eight teams and broadcast partners.
Cain, a starter on a national championship-winning team at Clemson, appeared in eight games for the Steelers in 2019-20. The 28-year-old has been with the Birmingham Stallions since 2023, part of championship teams the past two seasons. In 2023, it was in the USFL and Cain won championship game MVP honors when he had three touchdown receptions in a victory against the Pittsburgh Maulers.
"One of the best return men in the UFL" — Deon Cain proved it again last week. Big plays, big impact. pic.twitter.com/U9cusMF74i
— United Football League (@TheUFL) April 23, 2025
Vaughns never appeared in a regular-season game for the Steelers but was on their practice squad for the entirety of the 2021 season. He’s in his second season with the Arlington Renegades.
Kenny Pickett in the clutch ????
He finds Tyler Vaughns to give the #Steelers a late lead.pic.twitter.com/zccCNsxDIW
— PFSN (@PFN365) August 14, 2022
Wing, who now punts for the San Antonio Brahmas, had two stints with the Steelers almost a decade apart — 2014 and 2023. Now 34 years old, Wing led the UFL in gross punting average at 48.2 yards.
Despite missing a game, Cain was third in the league in receiving yards (514), second in touchdown catches (six) and first in yards per catch (17.7). He also was fourth in the league in kick return average (26.3).
Vaughns was in the top five in catches (41), yards (475) and receiving touchdowns (four).
Also on the all-UFL team was former Penn State guard Steven Gonzalez, who plays for the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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