The Steelers begin their three-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. It's the first time the entire team will meet ahead of the 2026 season. This is when playbooks are installed and the team has its unofficial orientation before training camp begins July 23 at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa.
The event will take place over three days. Tuesday and Wednesday will be identical with team meetings and practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Thursday will be different, as the team will meet off campus for non-football activity.
While minicamp is essentially glorified OTAs, it is still a pretty big milestone ahead of the season. Again, the entire team is required to be in attendance. Should any player be absent, except for the rare occasions in which they are excused by the team, they are subject to fines.
Here are three things to watch over the next three days:
• Will Joey Porter Jr. and Nick Herbig officially become hold-ins? Both are entering the final season of their respective rookie contracts. Porter has attended a few of the Steelers' OTAs thus far, but has yet to actually work out with the team on the field. Herbig hasn't even attended any of the OTAs during Phase Three of the offseason program.
Now, OTAs are completely voluntary. No player is required to attend. So, even though the Steelers had a very high attendance over the first two weeks of OTAs, it doesn't mean Porter and Herbig are automatically locks to hold-in over contract extension negotiations just because they are one of just a few that didn't participate.
That being said, both Porter and Herbig are due for big pay raises and could use the hold-in tactic to establish leverage in the negotiations. Mike McCarthy will address the media ahead of Tuesday's practice. If nothing he says indicates an excused absence for either player and he says they are healthy enough to participate in practice, then both players should be on the field. If not, they're officially hold-ins.
• With all the shuffling that's gone on during the first two weeks of OTAs, I'm curious to see if any of that remains consistent or if McCarthy moves players around again.
The offensive line has seen the most shuffling, with both Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick moving from the right to left sides, and Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook shifting from the left to the right.
McCarthy has stressed versatility throughout the roster, and we've seen plenty of movement already. Minicamp should tell us whether there's more coming or if we're starting to see some guys settle into spots before the team prepares for training camp.
• It's difficult to report on this, but overall team participation and engagement during these practices still matter, especially with a whole new coaching staff. I'm not talking about stats, such as how many touchdowns or interceptions Aaron Rodgers throws or anything of that sort. That means absolutely nothing this time of year.
Instead, what's the feel of the team? What's the energy level? How are they communicating? What's the intensity level, regardless of what drills are taking place? Who stays after practice to get more work in, and for how long? Are we going to see a team that's going through the motions, like a bunch of students impatiently waiting for the final school bell to signal the start of summer vacation? Or are we going to see a team that's setting the tone six weeks early for training camp at Saint Vincent College?
THE ASYLUM
Minicamp: Will Porter, Herbig hold-in?
The Steelers begin their three-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. It's the first time the entire team will meet ahead of the 2026 season. This is when playbooks are installed and the team has its unofficial orientation before training camp begins July 23 at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa.
The event will take place over three days. Tuesday and Wednesday will be identical with team meetings and practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Thursday will be different, as the team will meet off campus for non-football activity.
While minicamp is essentially glorified OTAs, it is still a pretty big milestone ahead of the season. Again, the entire team is required to be in attendance. Should any player be absent, except for the rare occasions in which they are excused by the team, they are subject to fines.
Here are three things to watch over the next three days:
• Will Joey Porter Jr. and Nick Herbig officially become hold-ins? Both are entering the final season of their respective rookie contracts. Porter has attended a few of the Steelers' OTAs thus far, but has yet to actually work out with the team on the field. Herbig hasn't even attended any of the OTAs during Phase Three of the offseason program.
Now, OTAs are completely voluntary. No player is required to attend. So, even though the Steelers had a very high attendance over the first two weeks of OTAs, it doesn't mean Porter and Herbig are automatically locks to hold-in over contract extension negotiations just because they are one of just a few that didn't participate.
That being said, both Porter and Herbig are due for big pay raises and could use the hold-in tactic to establish leverage in the negotiations. Mike McCarthy will address the media ahead of Tuesday's practice. If nothing he says indicates an excused absence for either player and he says they are healthy enough to participate in practice, then both players should be on the field. If not, they're officially hold-ins.
• With all the shuffling that's gone on during the first two weeks of OTAs, I'm curious to see if any of that remains consistent or if McCarthy moves players around again.
The offensive line has seen the most shuffling, with both Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick moving from the right to left sides, and Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook shifting from the left to the right.
McCarthy has stressed versatility throughout the roster, and we've seen plenty of movement already. Minicamp should tell us whether there's more coming or if we're starting to see some guys settle into spots before the team prepares for training camp.
• It's difficult to report on this, but overall team participation and engagement during these practices still matter, especially with a whole new coaching staff. I'm not talking about stats, such as how many touchdowns or interceptions Aaron Rodgers throws or anything of that sort. That means absolutely nothing this time of year.
Instead, what's the feel of the team? What's the energy level? How are they communicating? What's the intensity level, regardless of what drills are taking place? Who stays after practice to get more work in, and for how long? Are we going to see a team that's going through the motions, like a bunch of students impatiently waiting for the final school bell to signal the start of summer vacation? Or are we going to see a team that's setting the tone six weeks early for training camp at Saint Vincent College?
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