First, coach Mike Tomlin revealed recently, came the offseason surgery for Terrell Edmunds.

Then, the shot to the ego — and bank account — that was the Pittsburgh Steelers declining their 2022 contract option on him. Now, Edmunds has been navigating a training camp in which he’s been at less than 100% health and participation.

Certainly not ideal circumstances for what has become a “contract year” for the Steelers’ fourth-year strong safety.

“I just want to put it all out there on the field this year and make them make a tough decision if they want to bring me back (in 2022),” Edmunds said after Sunday’s camp practice at Heinz Field. “But at the end of the day, I’m going to go out there and give it everything I’ve got for this team.”

Edmunds said the injury that necessitated the procedure Tomlin referred to was to his shoulder. That was not a surprise because Edmunds suffered a shoulder injury during a December game last season that limited his practice and kept him out of a meaningless regular-season finale at the Cleveland Browns.

That was the first game Edmunds missed in his career; he’d appeared in the first 47 since he was taken as a first-round pick in 2018.

Edmunds played eight snaps in his preseason debut Thursday at the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s missed a couple sporadic practices during camp and has seemed to be limited in reps during others.

“I feel good now,” Edmunds said. “Going in the right direction … keeping on taking those steps forward and get ready for the season.”

In something of a surprising move, the Steelers in May declined their $6.75 million option for Edmunds’ fifth season. That means, outside of a highly unlikely extension getting done in the next four weeks, Edmunds will be an unrestricted free agent this coming spring.

Keenly aware of that, Edmunds did not shy away from saying he’s using it as motivation.

“Of course,” Edmunds said. “We are all out here playing. It’s a contract year, (so) take it up a notch, just keep on growing, keep being a great player and just going out there helping my team win.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)