The Pittsburgh Steelers will start their organized crew actions subsequent Tuesday, which is the primary probability for the complete crew to take part in on-field actions. Whereas there received’t be any contact and every part will likely be achieved at a walk-through tempo, there’ll nonetheless be a lot to remove from seeing the crew line up for the primary time.
WILL AARON RODGERS SHOW UP?
We would have the reply to this query earlier than OTAs formally start. The Steelers have been linked to the free agent quarterback since March, and with OTAs marking the beginning of crew actions, it might be a perfect time to have Rodgers within the constructing. If the crew does signal him, he will likely be their beginning quarterback, and getting him within the constructing and dealing along with his teammates as early as attainable could be excellent.
There’s an opportunity that Rodgers indicators after OTAs and reveals up for Necessary Minicamp on June 10, as OTAs are nonetheless voluntary. But when he doesn’t signal by minicamp, then there is likely to be some trigger for concern about whether or not he’ll play in any respect subsequent season. He very effectively might be within the constructing by subsequent week, and heading into OTAs, whether or not he will likely be is the largest query for Pittsburgh.
WILL HOWARD’S PERFORMANCE
Howard, the Steelers’ sixth-round decide, has been a buzzy title since being drafted. At rookie minicamp, beat writers praised his poise and management, and whereas he seemingly received’t play a lot as a rookie, there’s nonetheless lots of intrigue round him. That’s regular for a rookie quarterback, but it surely’ll be fascinating to see what Howard seems to be like enjoying with Pittsburgh’s whole offense.
One other subplot will likely be how the reps are distributed between Howard and Skylar Thompson. Howard is extra prone to make the roster than Thompson is (if the Steelers signal Rodgers and solely hold three quarterbacks), but it surely wouldn’t be stunning if the reps have been pretty even or if Thompson received a number of extra early on in OTAs.
Howard’s efficiency is definitely value monitoring, even when his anticipated contributions in 2025 will seemingly be minimal.
WHO IS THE BACKUP NOSE TACKLE?
We received’t get a transparent reply on this throughout Day One, however it is going to be just a little bit telling primarily based on the rep distribution. With Montravius Adams lower, who the crew’s nostril sort out is behind Keeanu Benton is just a little unclear. Logan Lee, Pittsburgh’s sixth-round decide final season, labored at nostril sort out some throughout coaching camp final 12 months. Yahya Black, Lee’s teammate at Iowa and Pittsburgh’s fifth-round decide this season, would make lots of sense as a possible choice, however Karl Dunbar stated the crew views him as a defensive finish.
Whether or not that holds true stays to be seen. The timing of Adams’ launch coming proper after the NFL Draft was curious, and if Black traces up inside at nostril, it is going to be an indication that the crew, at a minimal, thinks he can transfer round, and he might be in rivalry for the backup job. Different choices may embrace Jacob Slade or Domenique Davis, though each are lengthy pictures to make the roster. It’s value maintaining a tally of for a place that might be necessary for the Steelers.
INJURY RECOVERY
The large query right here will likely be OT Troy Fautanu – Fautanu suffered a knee harm forward of Week 3 that ended his season. He spent most of 2024 on IR, and what number of reps he will get and the way he seems to be will likely be value noting. P Cameron Johnston additionally tore his ACL in Week 1 and missed the season, however he’s been again operating and ought to be at or near full energy. The identical goes for LB Cole Holcomb, who returned to follow late final 12 months however missed your complete 2024 season after a knee harm ended his 2023 season early.
Fautanu is the largest title to observe, and the Steelers predict massive issues from their first-round decide final 12 months. He’s anticipated to slip proper in because the starter at proper sort out, and he’ll be a key piece in serving to Pittsburgh’s run recreation enhance and conserving whoever their quarterback is upright.
RUNNING BACK REPS
The Steelers have lots of operating again depth this 12 months, even after dropping Najee Harris in free company. Jaylen Warren is anticipated to be the starter not less than to start the season, but it surely’ll be value watching to see how a lot Kaleb Johnson will get combined in. Even behind these two, the combination between Kenneth Gainwell, Cordarrelle Patterson, Trey Sermon, and gamers like Evan Hull and Jonathan Ward will likely be fascinating.
Johnson is a perfect match for Arthur Smith’s scheme, and his position may enhance all year long. However Warren, deservedly, ought to get the primary crack on the starter job, and I believe we’ll see that mirrored throughout OTAs. The competitors behind him and Johnson will likely be enjoyable to observe, as Gainwell will seemingly earn a roster spot, but it surely might be three canines and one bone for the spot behind him, if the Steelers even choose to hold 4 operating backs on the roster.
