Zach Frazier trying to overcome low snaps to Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers early in camp

For the second day in a row, the initial team portion of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp began with a thud.

Second-year Zach Frazier began the “seven shots” session Saturday with a low snap that skipped past quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It was reminiscent of the previous day when Frazier sent his first snap sailing past the 41-year-old quarterback.

Frazier was replaced temporarily by Ryan McCollum, then returned for the final snap of the drill.

“Just can’t do it,” Frazier said. “The rest were fine. That’s two days in a row. I’ll get it fixed. You can’t have it, obviously. It’s not something I normally have a problem with. It will be fixed.”

Frazier had most of his snaps during spring workouts with Mason Rudolph, who was the de facto starter until Rodgers signed a day before the start of minicamp in June. Rudolph was the first-team quarterback those three days as Rodgers was limited to individual passing drills.

“It’s different,” Frazier said of the switch in quarterbacks. “Just the past couple days is really the first work we’ve gotten with him.”

Coach Mike Tomlin blamed the exchange issues not on the players involved but on the calendar. Training camp is less than a week old, and the Steelers routinely have practiced in 90-degree weather.

“That’s always the case,” Tomlin said. “We’ll never like it, but we’ll get through it. It will be something that will be in our rearview mirror.”

Heated session

After two days of having abbreviated workouts, including one shortened by rain, Tomlin put his players through a full two-hour session. Although the temperature reached the 90s, the heat index at nearby Arnold Palmer Regional Airport was 100 degrees.

The day began with a heavy rainstorm that forced the Steelers to do individual work on a turf field. Players returned to the grass surfaces at Chuck Noll Field for the remainder of the workout.

“It was challenging in some instances, some self-inflicted wounds as the heat set in,” Tomlin said. “That’s part of the get-better process. Hopefully, we’ll be sharper when we have a tough day like today.”

Getting days off were veteran defensive players Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt and Darius Slay.

“It’s not only for the preservation of those guys, but it gives more reps to emerging players,” Tomlin said, citing rookie linemen Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black and new cornerback Brandin Echols. “Our goal is to give everyone what they need to develop.”

The only injury Tomlin reported was a calf strain by outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon. Tight end Jonnu Smith practiced for the first time, but running back/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson didn’t practice for a third day in a row because of an undisclosed reason.

Inaugural workout

Limited in the first two practices, Smith was a full participant and took regular reps in team portions.

Smith had been waiting to receive clearance to practice in front of the fans at Saint Vincent.

“Absolutely,” he said. “This training camp is a true training camp. It makes you feel like … you’re in the NFL. That’s good. That’s good for the mind, good for the soul, good for the body.”

The Steelers envision Smith being a big part of the offense this season. He caught 88 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns last season in Miami. He and cornerback Jalen Ramsey joined the Steelers in the late-June trade in which free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was sent to the Dolphins.

Smith is being counted on to help ease the loss of wide receiver George Pickens, who was traded to Dallas in May.

“We’re getting to know him,” Tomlin said. “He’s learning what to do from an assignment standpoint. He wasn’t here with us in the spring. He’s a veteran guy and a quick study, and we got a lot done today. It’s reasonable to expect more.”

Fan favorite

The bleachers were packed with fans at Chuck Noll Field, and spectators stretched across the adjoining hillside, as the Steelers estimated a crowd of 4,000 for the first weekend session of training camp.

An early crowd favorite has turned out to be sixth-round draft pick Will Howard. The former Ohio State quarterback received a loud cheer when he entered for a few snaps late in the second team period.

“Was that for me?” Howard said later. “I thought something was going on on the sideline. I did not know that. That’s cool. You can’t ask for anything better.”

The cheers intensified when Howard completed a pass to undrafted free agent receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig.

“I genuinely did not know that was for me,” Howard said. “I thought it was because Joey Porter did something on the sideline.”

Howard has alternated between the No. 3 and No. 4 quarterback spots with Skylar Thompson. He isn’t sure why the crowd has taken to him, but he’s also not complaining about it.

“I’m really thankful they are taking to me well,” he said. “I want to show I can be a team player here and contribute to the Steelers.”