Steelers training camp preview: What you need to know

Tribune-Review
Monday, July 24, 2023 10:15 a.m. | Monday, July 24, 2023 10:15 a.m.

Fans watch as Pittsburgh Steelers take off on a warmup run while head coach Mike Tomlin, fourth from right, watches during practice at NFL football training camp in Latrobe on Aug. 11, 2022.

The Pittsburgh Steelers return to Saint Vincent College for training camp this week, a time-honored tradition that stretches back to 1966.

After spending 54 consecutive summers on campus, the coronavirus pandemic forced the team into a two-year hiatus from the Unity Township facilities.

But after returning last July, the tradition is back in place and stronger than ever, with thousands of fans expected to attend daily open workouts.

What they will see is a revamped roster, led by second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett and a slew of highly touted veterans on the defensive side of the ball.

Here’s a look at some of the Trib’s training camp preview content leading up to reporting day on Wednesday:

Kenny Pickett enters Steelers camp at the head of the table

Kenny Pickett will no longer arrive as an invited guest when the Steelers report to Saint Vincent College. He has a seat firmly placed at the head of the table.

Full year into new Omar Khan-led regime, plenty of turnover on roster as Steelers head to camp

General manager Omar Khan, assistant general manager Andy Weidl and director and pro scouting Sheldon White, named to their roles last summer, have presided over a year in which 52 of the 90 players showing up at Saint Vincent College for training camp this week were not with the organization on reporting day last year.

5 players to watch as Steelers report to training camp

So for the purposes of listing “players to watch,” let’s eliminate the three most obvious. Even under that criteria, there is no shortage of intriguing rookies or veterans for which Steelers fans might want to keep their eye on if they visit one of the 16 open practices at Chuck Noll Field. Here are five of the most prominent.

Mark Madden: Steelers’ commitment to defense is flawed in today’s NFL

The Steelers have spent big to keep mostly intact a team that hasn’t won a playoff game in six years. Outside of drafting, they loathe big change.

Tim Benz: Plenty of Steelers issues to criticize of late — but not offense/defense payroll disparity

There have been plenty of areas where the Steelers have opened themselves up to criticism over these past six years without a playoff win. But this critique is misplaced and overblown.

Steelers’ 2023 training camp positional breakdown:

• Specialists

• Offense

• Defense

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Pittsburgh Steelers

A map of the Steelers training camp facilities at Saint Vincent College in Unity Township.

Schedule of open practices

Admission to open practices is free, but a mobile ticket must be secured online via Ticketmaster. Season ticket holders and waitlist members first will be offered tickets beginning at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively, June 27. Remaining tickets will be available beginning at noon that day.

*Unless noted, all practices are 1:55 p.m. at Chuck Noll Field at Saint Vincent College

Wednesday, July 26, reporting day

Thursday, July 27

Friday, July 28

Saturday, July 29

Sunday, July 30

Tuesday, Aug. 1

Wednesday, Aug. 2

Thursday, Aug. 3

Friday, Aug. 4, Latrobe Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 5

Sunday, Aug. 6