Steelers minicamp notes: Joey Porter Jr. on 1st-team defense, Kenny Pickett wears new helmet

When the first of three mandatory minicamp sessions wrapped up with a two-minute drill simulation Tuesday, rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was on the field with the first-team defense for what is always a spirited and competitive drill.

“Just great to be out there with the ‘ones’ and all the guys,” Porter confirmed after the session at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “The communication is a big part of (being with) the ‘ones,’ so I am just trying to keep up with them and keep learning.”

The first pick of the second round of the draft, Porter joins a secondary that returns one of its top four cornerbacks from last season (Levi Wallace) but added a pair of free agents (Patrick Peterson, Chandon Sullivan) and two draft picks (Porter and seventh-rounder Cory Trice).

New hat

Quarterback Kenny Pickett, once again, is wearing a new helmet.

Pickett confirmed he is wearing a third different style of helmet since entering the NFL last season as a rookie.

“I show up, and they are in my locker – and I just wear them,” Pickett said Tuesday. “I trust our (medical/equipment personnel) to put the best helmets in there. And if it’s comfortable, it’s fine with me.”

Pickett twice was forced to leave games last season because of concussion protocol. The newest technology has developed football helmets specifically designed by position, and those for quarterbacks are intended to cut back on whiplash.

“That (the helmet worn Tuesday) was (deemed to be) the best one to have for quarterbacks,” Pickett said, “so that’s what I am rolling with.”

Pickett added that if at some point experts develop another design to be better at protecting quarterbacks’ heads, he’ll be happy to switch to that.

After his most recent concussion caused him to miss a start in December, Pickett switched helmet designs.

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