Steelers camp report: Veteran safeties Damontae Kazee, Keanu Neal return to team drills

Kenny Robinson, take a deep breath.

For the better part of this Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, the three safeties atop the depth chart have been out because of injury or personal absence. Two of those safeties — Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal — took part in team drills Sunday for the first time since the first week of camp. Coupled with Minkah Fitzpatrick’s return last week from an excused absence, Robinson at last did not need to do yeoman’s work in regards to safety reps.

Kazee suffered an ankle injury during the third practice of camp July 29. Neal went down with an undisclosed injury Aug. 2. While each, particularly Kazee, had been taking part in individual drills and doing other work, Sunday offered their first chance at team reps since being injured.

“Aw, man, you know I have been missing it,” Kazee said with a smile after practice. “But it wasn’t up to me. If it was up to me, I told you, I would have been back last week. But ‘Coach T‘ (Mike Tomlin) told me no.”

Kazee confidently termed himself “probably, like, 105%,” and said he can play in the Steelers’ next preseason game Saturday and though he again deferred to Tomlin.

“At this point, I am just getting back in shape,” Kazee said, “so just having fun with it.”

An eight-year veteran, Neal has been teammates with Kazee for six of the latter’s seven NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys and now the Steelers. The precise nature of Neal’s injury remains a mystery.

“Nothing crazy,” Neal said after Sunday’s practice. “But I am feeling good. Locked in, ready to go.”

While Kazee was part of every team drill with the first-teamers, Neal’s participation was more limited. Still, he was glad to get the green light.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he said. “Definitely excited to be back.”

No Porter, Benton, others

Three players who left Friday’s preseason game because of injury did not practice Sunday: linebacker Nick Kwiatkowski (shoulder), cornerback Duke Dawson (knee) and defensive lineman Keeanu Benton (ankle). Tomlin described Benton’s status as “day to day.”

Larry Ogunjobi (foot) and rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (ankle) did not practice after missing the game in Tampa Bay completely. Ogunjobi was spotted on the Saint Vincent campus in a walking boot.

Defensive captain Cameron Heyward was kept out of work because of illness, Tomlin said. Safety Tre Norwood (calf) continues to sit out.

During Sunday’s practice, guard Nate Herbig suffered a shoulder injury.

“He’s going to be evaluated,” Tomlin said.

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