Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp Recap: Saturday 8/1

Injuries

The Steelers defense has been doing extra conditioning, designed to prevent injuries. Ironically, there has been a spate of injuries among defensive players since they suited up in pads. Could be a coincidence, but overtraining and dehydration do put players at increased risk of injuries.

First up:

Martavis Bryant is out with an elbow infection; team predicts he will be sidelined for 10 days, according to Ross Jones of Fox Sports.

Steelers WR Martavis Bryant to undergo minor procedure for elbow infection, per source. Expected to be out 10 days, likely to miss HOF game.

— Ross Jones (@RossJonesFOX) August 1, 2015

Who got hurt at practice Saturday?

1) OLB Jarvis Jones, biceps

2) LB Ryan Shazier, back

3) S Shamarko Thomas, shoulder

4) RB Josh Harris, shoulder

5) RB Ross Scheuerman, Achilles

Of these recent injuries, Mike Tomlin said, "I don't want to characterize these injuries as significant. I don't know that they are; I don't know that they aren't."

Notable players still on PUP:

1) C Maurkice Pouncey

2) CB Senquez Golson (The addition of two d-backs lately does not bode well for Golson)

3) QB Brad Gradkowski

Players Sitting Out

1) LB James Harrison

2) S Will Allen

3) TE Matt Speath

4) RB DeAngelo Williams (he was icing his shoulder)

5) WR Markus Wheaton

6) DT Steve McClendon

7) S Mike Mitchell

Player performances

Mike Tomlin has been impressed with Darrius Heyward-Bey. Today, he caught a pass while wedged between CB Antwon Blake and S Alden Darby. This was one of four completions for Ben Roethlisberger in no-huddle work, during which he finished up four for six.

Unloved DT Cam Thomas took a lot of reps today with the first-team defense performing in well in tackle football against UDFAs RB Cameron Stingily and G Reese Dismukes. More backs on backers coverage (today it was the Pass Coverage Edition) brought an interception by LB Terence Garvin and balls batted down by LB Vince Williams and Lawrence Timmons.

Landry Jones hasn't been looking terrible, though his performance at the beginning of camp, throughout minicamp, and at OTAs is reflective of his inconsistency. Today, Jones was five for seven in a red zone drill. With Bruce Gradkowski still out for the foreseeable future, Jones and Tajh Boyd are, in effect, competing for the first backup spot on the roster.

Bud Dupree has been having a good training camp, participating in his very first Backs on Backers drills. Le'Veon Bell has taken the LB under his wing and is impressed by his performance. "Bud has been doing a great job. I had to block him yesterday and it was crazy," Bell said to the media today. "He is doing a great job." Bell has also encouraged Dupree to use the cold tub and the hot tub to hasten his recovery from brutal workouts.