Tim Benz: Larry Ogunjobi shows Steelers — and himself — that his injured foot is ready to go

Post-practice media interviews at Steelers training camp certainly aren’t Mike Tomlin’s favorite part of the day. But after Monday’s workout at Latrobe Memorial Stadium, an ear-to-ear grin slowly crept across Tomlin’s face when he realized one of the questions was about Larry Ogunjobi’s debut.

“It didn’t take long for his presence to be felt,” said the beaming head coach.

Tomlin was talking about Ogunjobi’s first two team reps on Monday — the first two in a Steelers uniform for the recently signed defensive lineman.

Ogunjobi had yet to take part in team drills over the first two weeks of training camp as the club made sure his surgically repaired foot was 100% ready to respond to full contact.

Based on what Ogunjobi showed yesterday, it is. The free agent from Cincinnati made a tackle in the backfield on his first snap of a live team running drill. On the second snap, he broke through the line and helped bust that play, too.

Ogunjobi’s flashy start drew raucous cheers from his new teammates on the defensive side of the field.

“It was just good to get back out there,” Ogunjobi said after practice. “It’s been a long rehab, a long process. I’m just glad to get back out there and do what I love again.”

Ogunjobi’s last competitive snap was in the first win of the Cincinnati Bengals playoff run last winter. He was carted off the field during the Bengals’ 26-19 wild-card victory over the Raiders with a Lisfranc injury that would later require surgery. The recovery was significant enough that the Chicago Bears negated their $40 million contract offer after he failed a physical in March.

So Ogunjobi went back on the open market, and he stayed there until the Steelers signed him in June for the much less risky price tag of $8 million for this year alone. After proceeding with caution throughout much of camp in terms of how much (or how little) the Steelers wanted Ogunjobi to do, he now wants to prove that signing him was a worthwhile roll of the dice.

“When you think too much, or when you play apprehensive, that’s when you get hurt,” Ogunjobi said. “So it’s a lot easier to just go. See how it responds. See how it feels. After that first tackle, you move it around a little bit, make sure it’s still alright. But it felt good.”

Ogunjobi is a huge part of the equation when it comes to replacing Stephon Tuitt at defensive end. Not just in the run game, as he showed Monday. But in the pass rush department as well. Last season in Cincy, Ogunjobi set a career-high with seven sacks.

That’s the same amount that Chris Wormley had as a starter at end, replacing Tuitt a season ago. Tuitt had 11 in 15 games during the 2020 season prior to his year-long absence in 2021, which eventually led to a retirement announcement this offseason.

If Wormley and Ogunjobi can combine to equate that production, as well as keep the level of play high against the run when Cameron Heyward has to come off the field, expect the Steelers defense to be even more of a force sacking the passer.

Which it did better than any team in the NFL last year, to the tune of 55 sacks.

And expect the defense to be better stopping the run.

Which it did worse than any team in the NFL last year, to the tune of 146 rush yards allowed per game.

“He’s a big man. He comes off blocks. We are glad to have him out there, and we look forward to him just getting better and better,” Tomlin said.

Apparently, he’s also healthy. That may be the most important description of all for Ogunjobi because his skill wasn’t in question. His upside wasn’t in question. The status of that worrisome foot was.

Now it appears the Steelers could be the team that benefits from waiting to find out the answer.

Listen to the latest Bella Construction “Letters from Camp” podcast with TribLIVE Steelers beat writer Joe Rutter and Tim Benz: They discuss the quarterbacks, Larry Ogunjobi’s return, injuries, goalie line drills and more.