Steelers inside the ropes: Mitch Trubisky continues to fail to get offense into end zone

Forget long scoring drives. In a training-camp simulation, Mitch Trubisky is having trouble directing the offense into the end zone given four plays from 2 yards out.

Trubisky, the free-agent signee, has taken first-team quarterback reps throughout every portion of every practice of Pittsburgh Steelers camp so far. During the traditional practice-opening 2-point conversion simulation known as seven shots, he hasn’t thrown a successful pass into the end zone since the first day the drill was staged.

The offense did not score on any of Trubisky’s four reps Tuesday, extending his streak of unsuccessful throws in seven shots to 14. Though Trubisky has completed two passes in that time — including a shovel pass to tight end Kevin Rader on Tuesday — neither made it into the end zone. The only successful seven shots snap Trubisky has directed since last Thursday was when Najee Harris ran the ball during one of the four reps Monday.

Trubisky also had a failed scramble last Thursday, the day after the first seven shots of camp. That first day, the offense scored on three of Trubisky’s four snaps.

• Trubisky’s struggles extend beyond seven shots. On Tuesday, a late 11-on-11 practice period had Trubisky go 0 for 4 with an interception (by Damontae Kazee) and what would have been a sack. The final 7-on-7 period featured three short passes at or near the line of scrimmage to tight ends or running backs (only one was completed), although one Trubisky rep of that period was a zipped-in ball delivered to Cody White over the middle. But that might have been Trubisky’s only quality throw all practice.

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• Mason Rudolph had the most memorable throw of the day, a ball that landed in the hands of speedy rookie Calvin Austin III while Austin was running in stride down the left sideline. The ball traveled about 35 yards downfield, and Austin, who beat Linden Stephens on the play, ran the final 30 yards for a touchdown.

• Rudolph again directed the third-team offense, and rookie Kenny Pickett was with the second-teamers for a second consecutive day. Pickett’s past two practices have been arguably his best of camp after Rudolph generally was the best of the three quarterbacks the first four days.

• Kendrick Green took first-team reps at left guard, continuing to alternate there with Kevin Dotson. At inside linebacker, the rotation of Devin Bush, Myles Jack and Robert Spillane continued.

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