Steelers Training Camp Takeaways: Final day of camp marred by potential starters leaving with injuries

The Pittsburgh Steelers were hoping to end training camp on a high note on Wednesday.  Closing up shop in Latrobe before heading home for a joint scrimmage with the Buffalo Bills ahead of their contest on Saturday, there was a: "Last day of school" vibe in the air.  But that changed quickly following a report […]

Rob Gregson NFL News Writer
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Aug 9, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reacts against the Houston Texans during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-USA TODAY Sports
Barry Reeger-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers were hoping to end training camp on a high note on Wednesday. 

Closing up shop in Latrobe before heading home for a joint scrimmage with the Buffalo Bills ahead of their contest on Saturday, there was a: "Last day of school" vibe in the air. 

But that changed quickly following a report that nickel corner Grayland Arnold had been carted off after hurting his knee and another starter exited early. 


Injury Update

  • DT Keeanu Benton participates after being poked in the eye and missing the remainder of the preseason game (Kozora)
  • EDGE Alex Highsmith returns from groin injury (Kozora)
  • SS DeShon Elliott returns after missing Monday (Kozora)
  • OL Isaac Seumalo has a rest day (Kozora)
  • T.J. Watt has a rest day (Kozora)
  • LB Elandon Roberts receives a rest day (Kozora)
  • Cam Heyward receives a rest day (Kozora)
  • OL Troy Fautanu still out (Kozora)
  • WR Roman Wilson still out (Kozora)
  • CB Donte Jackson remains out (Kozora)
  • DL DeMarvin Leal ends camp missing final three practices (Kozora)
  • CB Grayland Arnold hurts his knee in a special teams drill, and subs himself out before leaving on a cart (Farabaugh)
  • RB Jonathan Ward walks off field (Saunders)
  • Center Nate Herbig exits practice injured (Kozora)

We await further information for Arnold, but the news is disappointing for the veteran who was just working his way back from a previous injury. Beanie Bishop, who has been listed as the team's starting slot CB, was taking a backseat this week to Arnold, who earned first-team reps in every practice since Friday's game. 

Depending on the severity, Bishop, who has also been a solid contributor all camp and certainly a winner thus far, may have locked up the starting job. 

One player who was written in as a starter through three weeks of camp was center Nate Herbig. One-half of the bobbled center-QB exchanges last Friday, the series was one of the few lowlights on what has been a solid camp for Herbig. 

But rookie center Zach Frazier has been hot on Herbig's heels to begin with and could now be in line to start as early as Saturday night depending on the severity of Herbig's injury. 

The news certainly isn't the way that Pittsburgh wanted to end camp, and you can't blame it on physicality or overuse as the team was unpadded and coming off a rest day. 

We know Mike Tomlin tows the line of being physical yet smart with his players and these injuries are just an unfortunate part of the game. 

Luckily for the Steelers, they have over three weeks before the regular season kicks off.