LATROBE, Pa. — Tempers flared and bodies collided Wednesday during the second day of padded practice, igniting the first fight of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.
When quarterback Justin Fields held the ball during a read option, it all began. Inside linebacker Elandon Roberts tackled Fields as he sprinted around the right side of the line, sending the quarterback sprawling to the ground.
“It was just a little love tap,” Roberts told reporters afterward, with a smile.
The offensive line objected. Troy Fautanu, a rookie right tackle, charged over to face Roberts and delivered a forceful blow to the chest. Mason McCormick, a rookie guard, finished Roberts off as he spun around. When Patrick Queen opened his mouth to speak, he found himself at the center of the altercation. Enter Joey Porter Jr.
Everything went haywire after that. Nearly every player engaged in play on either side of the ball.
The play that started the fight:
(via @the_hot_take) pic.twitter.com/7Ot3z50JAz
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 31, 2024
THINGS GETTING HEATED 🍿
AFC Northing football isn’t soft pic.twitter.com/5GA264nrnO
— PickensBurgh🫡 (Tino) (@PickensBurgh) July 31, 2024
“You never want to see your quarterback get hit and then we all just turn the other cheek and walk away,” tackle Dan Moore Jr. said. “You never want that. That’s bad football, bad brotherhood.”
In practice, tensions were building early. At one point, Queen seemed to take off offensive lineman Nate Herbig’s helmet, which sparked a much smaller altercation.
Asked about the Fields incident, Herbig said it’s “nothing personal.”
“We just protect our quarterback,” he said. “We just appreciate what he does for us. We’re going to protect him. That’s our job.”
Even in the thick of things, Roberts was grateful for the offense’s reaction.
“The offense did what they’re supposed to do,” Roberts said. “You’re always supposed to protect your quarterback. I think it’s a really good thing. I’m going to stay away from that quarterback”
Air Force energy
Maybe the Steelers’ pre-practice attire already set the tone for a violent rehearsal. A somewhat symbolic move, coach Mike Tomlin said on Instagram that he was wearing black Air Force 1s.
According to Urban Dictionary, a person who gives off “black Air Force energy” …“doesn’t care about anyone or anything. Dude doesn’t care if he has to fight someone.”
Before the 2022 season began, Tomlin gave black Air Forces to every player as a parting gift before a road game in Cincinnati. The Steelers appeared to be attempting to establish a physical tone at camp with Tomlin’s covert action on Wednesday.
The goal of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, according to players, is to have the most physically demanding team in the league. Defensive players are aware of this and making an effort to match it.
“I think Arthur does a great job of setting the mentality, not just on the front seven of the offense, but the entire 11,” Roberts said. “You have receivers blocking. You got everybody going the extra mile to make sure the mentality is set. Defensively, we’re always going in with a certain mentality. I think that’s just going to make us have even bigger grit about ourselves.”
Wilson watch
Russell Wilson, the quarterback, is gradually getting better as he heals from a calf injury, but he does not seem to be fully recovered just yet.
He had a similar workload to Tuesday on Wednesday. Wilson participated fully in all aspects of the individual drills, including the pocket footwork exercises. Along with throwing air routes to the receivers, he was fully engaged during seven-on-seven drills, logging many first-team reps.
Russell Wilson is moving around well in pocket footwork drills. He added this segment of practice to his recovery beginning on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/LpPMMycSwB
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) July 31, 2024
He continued to be a partial participation during team phases, though. He did not participate in Seven Shots at all, and he did not perform any explosive warm-up exercises like power skips or sprints. He took just four snaps in 11-on-11 situations, passing the ball on every one of them.
Wilson probably wants to play with the first team, but the Steelers probably do not want him to have to worry about lineman slamming into him while he is still building his strength. The quarterback still has over five weeks until the regular season begins and over a week until the preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
“When it’s time to go, I’ll be ready,” Wilson said Tuesday.
Good day to be a nickel
The rivalry for the slot corner is getting hotter. Josiah Scott, who ran with the club throughout OTAs and mandatory minicamp, was cut by the Steelers, therefore undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop Jr. has been playing most of the first team reps.
This Wednesday, he was back to normal. Defensive backs found themselves in a difficult situation during a one-on-one sequence close to the goal line since there were no linebackers in the center of the field to direct receivers toward or safety cover above them. Bishop was in a fantastic position to stop George Pickens’ one fade attempt. The next time, Fields was told to put the ball up above the 5-foot-9 corner by the receiver. They gave it their best shot, but Bishop slipped past Pickens and blocked what would have been a touchdown reception.
In the meantime, Grayland Arnold, the other major candidate for that role, produced a number of notable plays of his own. He caught an interception for the second straight day, this time catching rookie John Rhys Plumlee. Later, in a seven-on-seven play, Arnold was well-positioned to deny Pat Freiermuth the ball.
In light of Cameron Sutton’s suspension, Bishop continues to appear to be in a strong position to earn that position. But if Arnold keeps recording great plays, it might get fascinating.
Seven Shots report
With Fields running the first-team offense, the unit leaned on lots of heavy personnel groupings and big formations to win the day, 4-3.
- Fields overthrew Pickens on a slant. (1-0, defense)
- Out of an I-formation, Jaylen Warren followed fullback Jack Colletto into the end zone (1-1)
- Fields hit Van Jefferson on a slant, beating Donte Jackson in coverage. (2-1, offense)
- Out of 13 personnel, Najee Harris followed his blockers and got in. (3-1, offense)
- Kyle Allen threw incomplete for Dez Fitzpatrick. Anthony Averett was in coverage. (3-2, offense)
- Allen scrambled for a score, but it appeared to come back due to holding. (3-3)
- Again out of the I-formation, Harris somersaulted into the end zone. (4-3, offense)
Different ways to use heavy personnel groupings
Near the goal line, one thing that has stood out is how versatile 13 personnel can be used by the Steelers. They may go big with three tight ends in certain instances before pounding the run inside. Additionally, they used Colletto as the leader of the I-formation to force it over the goal line. We anticipated this much.
The running back and tight ends are separated wide as the Steelers break the huddle at the same moment with 13 players. They have given Pickens two consecutive days of one-on-one time by gesturing for everyone to return to the formation.
The Steelers may be able to evaluate the defense at the start of the season and determine whether to rely more on the big men up front or target the wide receiver on an island.
Trice still has work to do
Cornerback Cory Trice Jr., a seventh-round pick in 2023 who missed his whole rookie season due to a knee ailment, has generated a lot of curiosity. It has become apparent during camp how little reps he has gotten. Despite claiming to be fully recovered, Trice is only occasionally practicing with the third squad. If he wants to move up the depth chart, it looks like he has a lot of work ahead of him.
The majority of the second-team reps have gone to veteran Averett and second-year corner Darius Rush, behind top two corners Joey Porter Jr. and Jackson.
(Photo of Justin Fields, 2: Phil Pavely / Associated Press)
