Training camps have kicked off around the NFL, and our team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. The Pittsburgh Steelers' camp is taking place at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, and Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and of course the quarterback room.
What follows is everything we are seeing and hearing at camp. We will update this file with the latest on Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the team. Who are the breakouts to watch, especially for fantasy football? And which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?
Let's get into it all, and be sure to keep checking back for more information until the first full week of the preseason begins on August 7.
Latest news from Steelers camp
Friday, July 25
A day after completing just one pass attempt to wide receiver DK Metcalf, quarterback Aaron Rodgers found his wide receiver in the end zone for a short touchdown on the second rep of the team's short-yardage Seven Shots drill.
Asked about it afterward, coach Mike Tomlin broke into a wide grin.
"That's what I anticipate," Tomlin said slyly. "I'm not going to throw a pep rally. That's what I expect. That's what I envisioned all summer."
It was a welcome sight after Rodgers' connection with his suitemate faltered throughout the pair's first practice, including Rodgers when targeted Metcalf in his first attempt during a team period and was intercepted by Patrick Queen.
Though Friday's practice got off to an inauspicious start with a miscommunication on the snap from Zach Frazier and a resulting fumble on the first Seven Shots play, Rodgers bounced back with the touchdown throw to Metcalf. He tried to throw back to Metcalf on the other side for the next rep but couldn't connect, with Joey Porter Jr. guarding the wide receiver. Rodgers came back in for the final rep of the period and found Pat Freiermuth in the flat to give the offense a 4-3 win in the first Seven Shots of camp.
Rodgers capped off his improved day by completing all four pass attempts in the first team period and later connected with Calvin Austin for a 25-yard deep completion between Juan Thornhill and Porter Jr.
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The Steelers cut their second training camp practice short by about 25 minutes as a severe storm rolled into the area. Though players evacuated the field by hiking up the hill toward the locker rooms and gym at St. Vincent College, Tomlin initially planned to resume practice after the delay to simulate some of the unpredictability that happens during a game. The team ultimately cut it short, though, because the storm was moving too slowly and unpredictably.
Following the trade that sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Dolphins in exchange for Jalen Ramsey, the Steelers safety corps was somewhat thin behind DeShon Elliott and Thornhill. The Steelers took a step to remedy that by signing veteran safety Chuck Clark on Friday. Clark, 30, was a four-season starter for the Ravens before tearing his ACL in 2023. He spent last season with the Jets and started 12 games.
TE Jonnu Smith was very limited for the second day in a row. Tomlin labeled him and Cordarrelle Patterson as "day-to-day" with unspecified issues following Thursday's practice. Patterson didn't participate at all on Friday, while Smith caught a couple passes from the quarterbacks during an individual period before the team stretch. After stretching, though, he left the field and didn't participate in the rest of practice.
Rookie running back Kaleb Johnson ripped off a big run for the second day in a row. This time, he caught a short pass from Rodgers and took it down the field for a 20-30 yard gain.
Thursday, July 24
Aaron Rodgers had one request of his new Pittsburgh teammates: keep an open mind. Rodgers asked his teammates to get to know him without any preconceived notions before making any judgements. That's exactly what rookie quarterback Will Howard did, and he said Thursday that he's been impressed with the veteran.
"I didn't really know what to expect from him," Howard said. "And that was the biggest thing is when he came in he said, 'Give me a clean slate, get to know me for me.' And I wanted to do that. I didn't want to come in with any expectations of who he was and just in getting to know him, he's such a down to earth, good guy.
"He likes to joke around and have fun and mess with the younger guys, but also you can just tell that it's pure and he loves the game. He wants to be here because he loves football."
Wednesday, July 23
Aaron Rodgers wasn't around during the Steelers' move-in to Rooney Hall at St. Vincent College on Wednesday, but he reported to training camp as scheduled. Rodgers didn't participate in team periods during minicamp as he got up to speed on the team's offense, but that won't be the case when the Steelers hold their first training camp practice Thursday, coach Mike Tomlin said.
"He's a workaholic," Tomlin said of managing Rodgers' workload at training camp. "I don't have a whole lot of reservations about that. I think he's hardened himself over the course of his career with his attitude toward work. Certainly I'm going to limit him in some instances, but when I do, it's going to be more about elevating opportunities for guys like Will Howard and less about preserving him to be quite honest with you."