Three days into practices with the Pittsburgh Steelers, three days in which Jalen Ramsey turned heads like the three-time NFL All-Pro he is.

Ramsey is noticeable almost every time he’s on Chuck Noll Field so far at training camp at Saint Vincent. On Saturday, he appeared to line up at outside cornerback — his natural position — more often than he had Thursday or Friday. That might have been owed to the “veteran’s day off” given to 34-year-old cornerback Darius Slay.

But Ramsey is a 10-year veteran, and he has been taking as many reps as anyone on the Steelers defense through three practices. Again on Saturday, Ramsey lined up some out of the slot/nickel as well as deep free safety and even some hybrid inside linebacker/strong safety.

Coach Mike Tomlin called Ramsey “a utility back.”

“We feel like he can cover anyone,” Tomlin said.

Ramsey’s biggest play came during the first snap of the final team period of practice when he baited a rolling-out Aaron Rodgers into throwing to tight end Jonnu Smith before he jumped the route and pulled in the interception.

“That was an amazing play,” Smith said, “by an amazing player.”

• The consensus from observers, Steelers players and Tomlin was that more credit was due Ramsey for the play than blame for Rodgers. But it also wasn’t the only negative play by Rodgers in his third practice with the Steelers. After having a pass batted down in the decisive snap of the “seven shots” 2-point simulation drill that opens the team periods of practice, during the ensuing 11-on-11 period, Rodgers stacked four quick incompletions. One came while on the run that was off-target to Calvin Austin III. On the next throw, DeShon Elliott broke up a pass intended for Smith. Rodgers mimed an officiating “defensive holding” call in response. Before another incompletion intended for Smith, Rodgers lobbed a deep pass down the right sideline that landed well out of bounds, albeit with tight coverage on the receiver.

• Nick Herbig got the “PBU” on Rodgers’ batted-down pass in “seven shots,” but other rushers were pressuring the 41-year-old during the sequence. After a bad snap thwarted the initial snap for the offense, Rodgers again showed his chemistry with DK Metcalf on snap No. 2 after Metcalf beat Joey Porter Jr. on a quick in route. Rodgers then connected with Darnell Washington in the back of the end zone as Juan Thornhill ran in coverage.

• The defense won each of the reps with Mason Rudolph at quarterback: one a throwaway because of pressure, one when Connor Heyward’s nice toe-tap catch in the back of the end zone was waved off by Tomlin because Heyward was deemed out of bounds.

• In his lone “seven shots” snap, Will Howard threw a scoring pass to undrafted rookie tight end JJ Galbreath on an in route. Howard gave an celebratory fist pump in response.

• The temperature wasn’t the only thing running hot Saturday. This practice was the chippiest of camp. Late in the session, left tackle Broderick Jones and linebacker Patrick Queen were at the center of a skirmish that drew most players from both sides together. It appeared that no punches were thrown.

• No. 3 quarterback Skylar Thompson continues to struggle, with a handful of inaccurate throws. Thompson did, though, complete a nice pass in a rare opportunity to throw to first-team tight end Pat Freiermuth in a late team rep.

• Assuming he got his feet down, veteran Brandon Johnson appeared to have a nice catch along the left (far) sideline during a team drill midway through practice.

• Signed Friday, veteran safety Chuck Clark made a play by ripping the ball out on a pass deep down the middle of the field for Roman Wilson.

• Rookie Max Hurleman for the first time during camp lined up in the backfield for a few snaps and was given a carry as a running back. Hurleman mostly has played wide receiver so far for the Steelers, though he was listed as a defensive back for Notre Dame last season. Hurleman played offense before 2024 when he was at Colgate.

• Hurleman was part of the group back in the punt-return line along with Austin, Scotty Miller, Robert Woods, Donte Kent and Ke’Shawn Williams.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)