Steelers dodge multiple bullets with pair of intriguing rookies following latest sightings at training camp in Latrobe
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t practice for very long on Monday, but that didn’t stop us from seeing where the team was on the injury front, and it was good news all around for a pair of rookies who missed time last week.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were back on the grass Monday at training camp (or at least for a little bit), and the biggest development of the day surrounded first-round pick Max Iheanachor. The rookie offensive tackle left Thursday’s practice in Latrobe early last week with what the Steelers initially called an upper body injury. It turned out to be a shoulder issue, and Mike McCarthy said at the time that Iheanachor would miss the rest of the week but return on Monday.
That timeline hit a snag Monday morning. McCarthy spoke to the media before practice and indicated he didn’t expect to see Iheanachor on the field. The Steelers coach said the rookie should be fine long term but wasn’t ready to go yet. Then practice started, and the story changed entirely. Despite Mike McCarthy saying Max Iheanachor would not practice, he’s on the field in pads and just took an individual rep.
Steelers preseason schedule
- Week 1 vs. Green Bay Packers (Thursday, August 13).
- Week 2 vs. New York Jets (Friday, August 21).
- Week 3 at Buffalo Bills (Thursday, August 27).
Weather cuts practice short, but the sign is encouraging
The full extent of Iheanachor’s participation remains unclear. A few minutes after Brooke Pryor of ESPN reported that update, the Steelers canceled practice and moved operations indoors. Fans were made to evacuate St. Vincent College, and the media was not allowed inside the indoor facility. That was all anyone saw from Monday’s session.
Still, just seeing Iheanachor on the field in pads and taking individual reps is a very good sign for Pittsburgh. As I reported last week after watching Iheanachor up close and in person throughout camp, this guy has been phenomenal. He has been everything you want from a rookie offensive tackle, particularly one who has been labeled as raw and needing time to develop.
The truth is, Iheanachor’s early returns have exceeded expectations. Getting him back on the field ahead of schedule only reinforces the belief that the Steelers may have found their long-term answer at tackle with the 21st pick in this year’s draft.
Eli Heidenreich back in pads
More good news on the injury front: seventh-round pick Eli Heidenreich was back in pads Monday. The hometown kid out of Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, appears ready to go for what will be a huge week leading up to the Steelers’ first preseason game on Thursday.
Heidenreich’s return matters for a Pittsburgh roster still sorting out its running back depth chart. Getting him healthy and on the field for the preseason opener gives the Steelers a chance to evaluate a player who could push for the No. 3 running back role this summer.
Monday was a short day on the field, but the two rookie injury updates coming out of Latrobe were both positive. Iheanachor’s unexpected return signals the shoulder issue isn’t a long-term concern, and Heidenreich being back in pads ahead of Thursday’s game gives the Steelers the depth they need heading into the preseason opener.
