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Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp Recap: August 12

The Steelers have the day off Thursday as they head down to Jacksonville for their second pre-season game. How did they use their practice time Wednesday? Find out in our recap.

By Dani Bostick
Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Personnel Issues

Out today due to injury or coach's decision were S Robert Golden, CB Senquez Golson, CB Cortez Allen, S Ross Ventrone, DT Daniel McCullers, TE Jesse James, LB Lawrence Timmons, and LB Vince Williams.

Shaun Suisham and Cameron Stingily both had surgery today. Suisham is on IR and Stingily was waived. In their stead, the Steelers added WR David Nelson and RB Braylon Heard.

Safeties Mike Mitchell and Shamarko Thomas have been out with minor injuries during camp both practiced during 11-on-11 scrimmages. Good news.

For Friday's preseason game, Mike Tomlin said, "Our intention is that all healthy men are going to play in the football game." He also clarified his role for Doran Grant who played on special teams during the first preseason game: "We like the work that he's done. He came into camp ready to go... with four preseason games to go, he's going to have an opportunity to show what he is capable of."

Garrett Hartley Update

Very sad news earlier this week when we realized Shaun Suisham would be sidelined for the season with an ACL injury. Fear not, Steelers Nation, Garrett Gartley hit 11 out of 13 attempts from 33, 29, 32, 33, 39, 41, 44, 49, and 47 yards. His misses were each from 57 yards.

Concerned Hartley is only a dome kicker since most of his NFL experience was with the New Orleans Saints? Hartley has an answer for that: "I played college in Oklahoma and the wind blows a bit there too." He's not too concerned about cold weather either.

More Information from Practice

Le'Veon Bell showed off a one-handed catch on Instagram earlier in the summer, but Wednesday it was Heath Miller with a one-handed grab. Maybe that makes up some for Jesse James' catching "technique" on Sunday. (And, hopefully for James it was just a case of the jitters, common for rookies.)

Two-Minute Drill- Ben Roethlisberger and the first-team offense scored during the drill with Big Ben going six for nine. Antonio Brown was his primary target. Roethlisberger was sacked once by DE Cam Heyward and LB Jarvis Jones. Both Doran Grant and Brandon Boykin also played some with the first team. Landry Jones' attempt did not go as well. He was picked off by CB B.W. Webb, nearly picked off by James Harrison (he dropped the interception) and sacked by LB Bud Dupree.

Seven Shots- The offense won this drill 5-2 as Roethlisberger connected with Miller, Brown, and Josh Harris, who also scored a rushing touchdown.

Pass Under Pressure- One of the better WR plays of the HoF game was Shakim Phillips one-handed catch over the Vikings CB-- and first-round pick-- Trae Waynes.

In case you missed it:

During the pass-under-pressure drill, Jones connected with Shakim Phillips again. Perhaps Phillips' performance was not a fluke. We'll find out soon enough as the Steelers preseason continues. Jones' other pass was intercepted by CB Kevin Fogg who had the lone interception of Sunday's game. Roethlisberger's turn brought a completion to Markus Wheaton for about 70 yards. Roethlisberger predicted Wheaton would be the breakout player of 2015, so it is good to see they are working on their chemistry.

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