No Le'Veon, but that's no surprise

The Steelers opened OTAs Tuesday just as they did last year at this same time -- without Le'Veon Bell.

But it was not surprising on either occasion. Because he hasn't yet signed his franchise tag, the reality is that Bell can't show up for these sessions -- or any -- because he's not technically under contract.

Besides, these things are voluntary workouts, right?

With Bell MIA again, that allowed more opportunities for James Conner, Stevan Ridley, Fitzgerald Toussaint and fifth-round draft pick Jaylen Samuels.

For Conner, now in his second season, it's a big opportunity. He ended last season on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in a Dec. 17 loss to New England, ending a rookie year that saw him gain 144 yards on 32 carries but get nicked up on several occasions.

"This is a big time for James with some of the injuries that he had last year and learning last year," Ben Roethlisberger said. "I think this will be really good for him to get as many reps as possible so we can all see what he can do and that he can see what he can do, too."

Conner had surgery to repair a torn MCL suffered against the Patriots and Tuesday marked his first on-field action since then. He looked lean and quick.

Now, can he stay healthy?

“I want all the reps possible before it really counts,” Conner said. “It all counts right now, but until we strap up Game 1, I want to take as many reps as possible, so I can be as comfortable as possible for whenever my number is called during the season.”

OKORAFOR SIGNS

The Steelers are down to two remaining unsigned draft picks after signing Chukes Okorafor to a four-year deal Tuesday. Okorafor, the second of the team's two third-round draft picks, is an offensive tackle from Western Michigan.

“He is a guy that is going to fit what we are looking for,” offensive line coach Mike Munchak said of Okorafor when he was drafted. “He can play right or left tackle. Great size, great strength. I am excited about the opportunity to work with him. I am excited to add someone of his caliber, someone who has a chance to grow, improve."

The signing of Okorafor leaves safety Terrell Edmunds, the team's first-round draft pick, and quarterback Mason Rudolph, who was selected in the third round before Okorafor, as the only two remaining Steelers draft picks who are not yet under contract.

REPLACING MARTAVIS

The Steelers traded Martavis Bryant to Oakland for a third-round pick on the opening day of the draft April 26, opening a void in their receiving corps. They hope they helped fill that hole by selecting Oklahoma State's James Washington the next day in the second round of the draft, then used that third-round selection on Washington's teammate, quarterback Mason Rudolph.

Tuesday marked the first time Roethlisberger had a chance to see Washington in action.

"(I) threw to him a little bit in individual (drills)," Roethlisberger said. "Saw him make a couple plays. Looks a little raw. Has to tighten up some things, his arms, and then some things in terms of kind of wide receiver route-running, but, boy, the way he snatches the ball and plays big looks pretty impressive so far."

That said, it will be difficult to replace Bryant in the lineup. Despite being suspended twice for violation of the league substance abuse policy, including the entire 2016 season, Bryant appeared in 36 games for the Steelers -- effectively just over two seasons -- catching 126 passes for 1,917 yards and 17 touchdowns.

His production slipped to 50 receptions for 603 yards and three touchdowns last season, but it's still production that must be replaced.

"That’s a big-play guy," Roethlisberger said of Bryant. "A weapon that we had that did a lot of great things for us but when you lose a guy you don’t ever try to replace him. You just let other guys do their job and we’ve got one of the best in the business already still here and we have other guys that are going to step up and try to do their job as well."

VETERANS FIRST

In previous years, when the Steelers signed a free agent, they would immediately put that player in with the first-team unit where they expected him to play. Safety Morgan Burnett, for example, worked with the first-team defense next to Sean Davis.

But linebacker Jon Bostic? He lined up on the second-team defense behind holdover Tyler Matakevich.

Matakevich, the Steelers' top backup at inside linebacker last season, initially replaced Ryan Shazier Dec. 4 at Cincinnati when he suffered a spinal cord injury. Matakevich then suffered a shoulder injury later in the first half of that game, an injury that kept him from playing in the base defense and eventually required surgery.

“Whether you're out there with the first team, second team or third team, all of these guys out here are the best where they're from,” said Bostic said. "So it's a chance to go out there and compete.”

MATT SUNDAY GALLERY