Steelers notes: Allen Robinson ramped up to work in team drills, Tanner Muse makes INT

When Allen Robinson took to the practice field at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for an 11-on-11 drill last week, it marked a milestone in his recovery from foot surgery.

“It’s the first time I’ve gone up against somebody in six months,” the veteran wide receiver said Tuesday.

Though he had been taking part in individual drills, it took until the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fifth organized team activities session of the spring last week for Robinson to take part in full team practice-like drills. But Tuesday marked the third consecutive OTA Robinson was able to take part in team periods, he confirmed afterwards.

“Being able to get back to have that and lay that foundation for myself going into a phase before training camp where I get six and a half weeks to work on things before training camp,” Robinson said, “I’m glad I’m able to get that out now.”

A 10-year veteran acquired via an April trade with the Los Angeles Rams, Robinson is in the second year of a three-year, $46.5 million contract. The Steelers, though, are paying him only $5 million this season.

Robinson is expected to play out of the slot. But he said so far he has been “doing a little bit of everything.”

“For me, it’s about the more I can do and just be able to get acclimated to the playbook.”

Muse’s musings

To say Tanner Muse is a student of the game perhaps could be best illustrated in the veteran inside linebacker’s detailed explanation he gave in acknowledging he had an interception during a team drill Tuesday.

“Today, it was crisscross with a little dig behind,” Muse said. “They beat me on that in a Cover 3 last week, so I was like, ‘Not again.’ So, I took and stepped up on the crisscross and dropped back on the hash, caught the ball.”

A safety in college at Clemson, Muse moved to linebacker in the NFL and earned a role last season with the Seattle Seahawks. Mostly a core special teamer, Muse was signed in April and is a candidate for a subpackage role on defense for passing downs.

Unexpected call

When Darius Hagans was released by the Indianapolis Colts last week, he didn’t know what to expect. But one team he wasn’t necessarily expecting to hear from was who ended up calling.

“I hadn’t had any calls (during the draft process) from the Steelers, nothing from them (previously),” the undrafted rookie running back said Tuesday, “so it was kind of a surprise to me.”

The Steelers reached out last week and officially announced Hagans’ signing Monday. Tuesday was his first work with his new team.

“It was really unexpected,” Hagans said, “but I am blessed to be here.”

The 6-foot, 210-pound Hagans had 1,012 rushing yards in 10 games last season for Division II Virginia State.

Intensity up

Safety Tre Norwood was asked about Tuesday’s workout, which was a spirited one, according to accounts. Only two days of OTAs remain before mandatory minicamp next week and the annual six-week summer break prior to the opening of training camps in late July.

“I think every week it’s been growing,” Norwood said of the intensity in the sessions. “You can just tell, guys are getting more comfortable out there, playing alongside each other, working on their competitive edge.

“We’re just going out there from start to finish every day in practice just competing hard, being healthy with it, having healthy competition, so we have loved that and continue to grow.”

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