Steelers inside the ropes: Jalen Ramsey vacillates between slot, free safety; Darius Slay plays outside

If the first practice of training camp is any indication, the Pittsburgh Steelers plan to deploy all three of their starting-caliber outside cornerbacks for virtually every down of games.

The most decorated of the three, however, won’t just be playing outside corner.

Jalen Ramsey spent his first official work day as a Steeler lined up at free safety when the defense was in its base package and as the slot when the team went nickel. A three-time All-Pro who was acquired along with tight end Jonnu Smith three weeks before camp opened in a trade with the Miami Dolphins for Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ramsey joins a position group that includes three-year starter Joey Porter Jr. and 13th-year perennial Pro Bowler Darius Slay.

Throughout the first day of practice, Porter and Slay remained on the outside of the defense during every snap they played. Ramsey — who has the most experience lining up in the slot, albeit not a significant amount — got moved around. When the Steelers used three defensive linemen, Slay was back deep behind strong safety DeShon Elliott. When a fifth defensive back was needed, Juan Thornhill took over back there and Ramsey moved up. He often was on the line of scrimmage, sometimes blitzing.

Ramsey even at times would be on the outside at the snap.

It was only one day, but for now the Steelers’ plan for dealing with their secondary is clear. Ramsey is the versatile chess piece that could make it all work.

• There were no surprises among the other starters on defense — defensive tackles Cameron Heyward and Keeanu Benton (with rookie Derrick Harmon the third man), outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith and inside linebackers Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson.

• Offensively — with the caveat that Jonnu Smith was unavailable — the eligible pass-catchers most often deployed with the first team were receivers DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson with tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. Jaylen Warren was the first-team running back, and the offensive line (left to right, with Isaac Seumalo on the non-football injury list) was as expected: Broderick Jones, Spencer Anderson, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick and Troy Fautanu.

• Though Aaron Rodgers acknowledged he was less than crisp in his first team work with the Steelers, Mason Rudolph had a solid day throwing passes.

• If it wasn’t for all of the attention placed on the deployment of Ramsey and the “debut” of Rodgers, rookie running back Kaleb Johnson might have stolen the show Thursday. A third-round pick, Johnson during his first camp practice as a pro showed burst through the hole and sped to get to the outside in stacking a handful of impressive runs. There is always the caveat, though, that there was no live tackling and players were not wearing full pads.

• A veteran free-agent running back added in the offseason, Kenneth Gainwell at times lined up out wide. He had a handful of receptions.

• Though Johnson had the most big runs, it was Evan Hull who arguably had the longest run of the day, bursting through the right side for a long gain in a play amongst third-teamers.

• Porter Jr. at one point had his hands on a pass thrown by Skylar Thompson but could not reel in the interception.

• Listed solely as a “fullback” on the roster, undrafted rookie D.J. Thomas-Jones took drills with the tight ends group. He was noticeable in making a handful of catches while mostly playing with third-teamers on both sides of the ball.

• In his first training camp practice since his serious knee injury suffered in November 2023, inside linebacker Cole Holcomb took regular reps with the second-team defense. Washington at one point in 7-on-7 play beat Holcomb for a long reception from Rudolph.

• There was live punting by Cameron Johnston and Corliss Waitman. Back taking turns receiving the boots were Austin, Robert Woods, Scotty Miller, Donte Kent, Ke’Shawn Williams and Max Hurleman.