Steelers to begin annual OTAs with plenty of questions to answer

The third phase of the NFL’s offseason conditioning program kicks off this week, and it represents the first chance for teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers to practice football in shorts.

No contact is permitted, but the Steelers can conduct 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 workouts during organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp.

The first of six OTA sessions begins Tuesday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. The Steelers usually take advantage of the full 10 practice sessions allotted, but this year the team has decided to eliminate a week of workouts.

Mandatory minicamp, initially scheduled for June 14-16 will be held instead a week earlier, from June 7-9.

Here are some of the questions facing the Steelers when they report to work Tuesday:

Will Stephon Tuitt attend?

The biggest question on an aging defensive line is whether the youngest member of the starting trio, Stephon Tuitt, will be part of the equation after missing the 2021 season because of injury and the tragic death of his younger brother in a hit-and-run accident.

Tuitt turned 29 Monday. He was at the peak of his career before his brother’s death, recording a career-high 11 sacks in 2020.

The Steelers have indicated that Tuitt wants to return this year, the final one of his contract. His contract calls for a $9.05 million base salary. But having accumulated nearly $56 million in career earnings, Tuitt can afford to retire if he wishes.

Tuitt could decide to wait until mandatory minicamp before making his first appearance. The Steelers, however, would like to have him join his teammates as soon as possible.

Which quarterback will work with the first team?

This will be a more pressing issue come training camp. The guess is that Mason Rudolph, as the only returning quarterback from 2021, will take the initial snaps out of deference to his seniority. Mitch Trubisky and first-round pick Kenny Pickett also will get their share of work as the Steelers try to determine Ben Roethlisberger’s successor.

Roethlisberger’s infrequent appearances at prior OTAs left plenty of work for his backups. This year, though, the Steelers could have four quarterbacks around for the entire third phase. It will take some creativity in order to keep everyone sharp.

Will Diontae Johnson and Minkah Fitzpatrick sit out while awaiting new deals?

Johnson is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the former third-round pick will earn $2.79 million. Other receivers selected on the second day from his draft class are threatening to hold out (Deebo Samuel) or have been traded (A.J. Brown) while seeking a bigger slice of the wideout contract bonanza.

The Steelers typically don’t begin negotiations on what they call “future business” until training camp, so Johnson isn’t going to force their hand if he skips OTAs. And while his numbers have risen each season, reaching 107 catches for 1,161 yards in 2021, he doesn’t have the leverage to command a $20 million salary.

Fitzpatrick is more likely to receive the big contract this summer. He’s already assured of making $10.6 million under the fifth-year option that was exercised by the Steelers a year ago and can follow the path taken by T.J. Watt last year. Watt didn’t participate in team portions of training camp practices until securing his mega-contract. Fitzpatrick, like Watt a year ago, won’t gain or lose anything by staying away from OTAs.

Who will man the interior of the offensive line?

The Steelers added James Daniels and Mason Cole in free agency. Each player has experience at center and guard. The likely configuration will have Cole starting at center and Daniels at one of the guard spots.

That will leave the other spot up for grabs in a competition that will involve Kendrick Green, Kevin Dotson and John Leglue. Green, of course, started at center as a rookie but played guard primarily in college at Illinois.

Dotson was considered the heir apparent at left guard last season but his disappointing season was cut short by injury. Leglue, a former undrafted free agent, finished the season in the starting lineup but probably is better served in a backup role.

Which position will Cam Sutton play?

In his first season as a full-time starter, Sutton started 16 of 17 games at right cornerback. Late in the season, though, Sutton saw more playing time in this slot. This was attributed to Joe Haden returning from injury and Ahkello Witherspoon becoming a viable starting option on the outside.

Witherspoon returned on a two-year contract, and the Steelers signed another capable outside starter, Levi Wallace, to a two-year deal in free agency. These moves would indicate a return to the inside for Sutton, who was used as a secondary jack-of-all-trades in his first four NFL seasons.

Who will provide depth at outside linebacker?

Getting reliable help behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith was problematic, particularly after the Steelers traded Melvin Ingram to Kansas City.

In a low-key move, the Steelers added Genard Avery in free agency. He appeared in 53 games with Cleveland and Philadelphia and could become the top backup in the rotation. Derrek Tuszka’s playing time increased after the Ingram trade, and he chipped in two sacks in the second half of the season.

Delontae Scott is searching for a roster spot after appearing in one game with the Steelers last year. A pair of undrafted free agents also could use OTAs to state their case. Tyron Johnson is from the Texas A&M pipeline that has produced Dan Moore Jr., Buddy Johnson and DeMarvin Leal the past two seasons, and T.D. Moultry played in a school-record 59 games at Auburn.