LATROBE, Pa. -- The Steelers are relatively healthy as players reported to Saint Vincent College Tuesday, but will start training camp without two key pieces of their defense in the short-term.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was placed on the team's Active/NFI (Non-Football Injury) List, Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday. Fitzpatrick sustained a minor wrist injury falling off a bike while he was on vacation. However, Tomlin doesn't "expect it to be an issue in the overall trajectory of his development and his place within this group."
"Stadium availability and things of that nature,” Tomlin added.
Also, Tyson Alualu will start training camp on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) List. Tomlin said Alualu is dealing with some swelling in one of his knees "probably from overtraining." However, like Fitzpatrick, Tomlin didn't sound too concerned with Alualu's availability in the long run.
"We don’t expect it to be significant from a long-term perspective," Tomlin said, "but it will create some discomfort at the early stages.”
Ftizpatrick and Alualu both play a critical role in the Steelers' defense and their availability this year will be paramount for any playoff chances in Pittsburgh.
Fitzpatrick's value to the defense was made perfectly clear when the Steelers made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history. Alualu is also returning from missing nearly all of the 2021 season -- the same season the Steelers finished dead last in the NFL against the run. Alualu's presence up front -- even with Larry Ogunjobi now a Steeler -- is needed in order to improve that area of the defense.
Regarding the health of the other 88 players in Latrobe, Tomlin said there are a few dealing with minor issues that will only be handled with limited reps for the time being.
Tomlin also hit on a number of other issues after wrapping up the conditioning test (which every player passed).
• Diontae Johnson reported to camp, which ends any question of whether or not he will hold out. The $50,000-per-day fine under the current CBA (that also cannot be waived) will likely end holdouts across the league.
Hold-ins, rather, have become another way for a player to send a message, which T.J. Watt did last season entering the final year of his contract. With Johnson entering the final year of his rookie contract, Tomlin didn't sound concerned regarding any speculation that his No. 1 receiver might do something similar.
"I'm not proceeding with any anticipation of any of those type of things, man," Tomlin said. "He was here on time and did a heck of a job the conditioning test like everyone else. So we keep moving forward."
• With Ben Roethlisberger now retired, the quarterback competition will surely hog the headlines that come out of Latrobe. Mitch Trubisky led the way as the clear No. 1 guy during OTAs and minicamp, which quelled any quarterback controversy early on.
But, things get a little bit more real when camp opens. Pretty soon the players will put on pads, then the first preseason game will be here before you know it.
Tomlin had no issue addressing the "elephant in the room," and confirmed the depth chart will remain the same to begin training camp. However, he was also very clear and articulate on how this competition will be handled.
"We're not going to micromanage or over-manage this quarterback competition," Tomlin said. "The depth chart will not rest on every throw. ... We're gonna be a little bit more steady than that. I think it's important from a leadership perspective to not over-manage it; to not be too impulsive. That's what I relayed to those guys, and our actions will continue to display that mindset."
• Kenny Pickett was the clear No. 3 quarterback during both voluntary and mandatory team activities. Before Tomlin confirmed the pecking order, Pickett rightfully expected the same structure when camp opens Wednesday.
"There was a one, two, three and a four," Pickett told the media as he reported to camp. "That's how it went in minicamp and OTAs, so we'll see how it goes when camp opens up tomorrow."
Pickett, this year's first-round draft pick, has an opportunity to win the job outright during camp. Trubisky will likely be the Week 1 starter in Cincinnati, but Pickett is still committed to competing and simply getting better.
"Just be consistent and play my game every day," Pickett said. "Honestly, that's a long ways away. Come from where I was in spring, learning the offense and things like that. I just want to compete and get better every day."
• The Steelers altered the running back mix at the eleventh hour before camp, signing Jeremy McNichols to a one-year contract Tuesday morning.
McNichols adds some more experience behind Najee Harris. The fifth-round pick out of Boise State in 2017 has logged time with the 49ers, Colts, Jaguars and Titans, rushing for 364 yards and one touchdown on 90 carries. McNichols, 26, has also hauled in 40 passes for 295 yards and one touchdown over his five years in the NFL, adding the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
"He's a guy that has an NFL resume," Tomlin said. "We've been in some stadiums with him in the past. We know that he's capable. He and others will be given an opportunity to define their roles and divide the labor up as we get into it. But we're happy that he's with us."
To make room on the 90-man roster, the Steelers cut Trey Edmunds.
• In order for the Steelers to make any real noise this season, there are a few things that have to happen. They need to be better against the run. They need Trubisky, Pickett or Mason Rudolph to grab the quarterback job by the horns and lead this offense on and off the field.
They also need better play from the offensive line.
The Steelers addressed the situation this offseason, bringing in multiple free agents. Now, the starting group looks to be Dan Moore at left tackle, Kevin Dotson at left guard, Mason Cole at center, James Daniels at right guard and Chuks Okorafor at right tackle. Kendrick Green is the wildcard, as he played center last year and is competing with Dotson for the spot at left guard.
Now, with camp starting Wednesday, changes to the positioning of the offensive line are on the table.
"We'll see," Tomlin said. "In the spring, we're just teaching and learning and getting to know, things of that nature. So, we hadn't made any changes or depth chart positioning from what we've seen in the spring. ... Now, the competition and their evaluations begin."
• Tomlin was asked to tell his favorite Roethlisberger story from training camp. Makes sense since this is the first time he's doing this job without Roethlisberger at the helm of his offense. Apparently, Cam Heyward is now staying in Ben's old room in the dormitories at Saint Vincent College.
"I walked into the room today and I laughed," Tomlin said. "Ben is one of those guys who brought the comforts of home to Latrobe. He spared no expense or amenity. ... Cam Heyward is in that room now, but it's less comfortable. I'll say that. Cam was somewhat of a caveman."
• Speaking of Roethlisberger, Tomlin was also asked about recent comments made by Ben regarding "me-first" attitudes in football, and how they may have led to some playoff failures.
Tomlin immediately dismissed any temptation to engage.
"I have no comment regarding that," Tomlin said. "I didn't read it or hear it, and I hadn't talked to him regarding it. Those are his opinions. I have no color to add to that or expand upon that. It's just fruitless."
• This is the first time the Steelers are hosting training camp in Latrobe since 2019. The past two training camps have taken place in Pittsburgh, and only 20 of the 90 players in camp have trained at Saint Vincent College.
Heyward is now the leader of this football team. Him taking over Roethlisberger's old room is a great indication of the passing of the torch. As 70 players prepared for a training camp they have not experienced before, Heyward only told them one thing: "Bring your own sheets."
As Heyward addressed the media Tuesday, he talked about the difference between training here and training over in Pittsburgh, putting a strong emphasis on team building.
"Here, it's football all day, football all night," Heyward said. "Those nights where you could simply be in the confines of your own home, now you're here bonding with your teammates. ... You have to experience it yourself."