Steelers notes: Fully healthy team reports to camp with perfect attendance
No need for roll call at Saint Vincent College on Wednesday. No need for the deployment of the physically unable to perform list, either.
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that all 90 of the players on the roster were accounted for on reporting day for the start of training camp. Each passed the camp-opening conditioning run test on Chuck Noll Field, too.
“Everyone showed up adequately conditioned and then some,” Tomlin said late Wednesday afternoon. “It appears that we have a very good group from a health standpoint. There were some people that were somewhat limited in the spring for a variety of reasons. We don’t see anyone at this juncture that will be limited as we embark on this thing tomorrow, which is a good thing.”
Among those who were limited during organized team activities and minicamp were a pair of veterans acquired in the spring whose 2022 seasons were cut short because of foot surgery: receiver Allen Robinson and inside linebacker Cole Holcomb. Receiver George Pickens was among other players who was limited during OTAs because of an undisclosed injury.
Typically, a player or two begins camp on the PUP or non-football injury list.
The Steelers’ first practice of camp is scheduled for 1:55 p.m. Thursday.
New faces not new to NFL
The Steelers could have as many as six new starters on defense this season. In addition to four draft picks, they signed nine veteran unrestricted free agents who are expected to contribute on defense: Holcomb, Patrick Peterson, Elandon Roberts, Markus Golden, Keanu Neal, Chandon Sullivan, Armon Watts, Tanner Muse and Breiden Fehoko.
Because those nine combine for 61 seasons of NFL experience, Tomlin isn’t anticipating a lengthy assimilation period or issues with lack of cohesion.
“I’ll be very blunt,” Tomlin said. “We’re not concerned about the new faces on defense, man. They’re veteran guys. They’re smart guys. It’s going to be a non-issue for us by the time we’re stepping on the stage.”
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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