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If I were to have done a poll of all the Pittsburgh Steelers fans who read BTSC, and asked them what they wanted most out of training camp, the resounding answer would have been "A healthy team!". Well, the Steelers have wrapped up their training camp practices at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, and they remain relatively unscathed.
Now, the pessimists of the fan base will point to Senquez Golson's injured foot and say it put the team in quite the bind, in regards to their secondary depth. Hard to disagree, but compare this camp to past camps.
In 2014, Mike Mitchell suffered a groin injury which lasted the entire season, hampering his play throughout the year. Ryan Shazier suffered a "boo boo" in camp which put him behind from the start and began an injury-plagued season.
Last year, Maurkice Pouncey suffered a season-ending ankle injury, Senquez Golson never saw even a practice field, Shaun Suisham was lost for the year with a knee injury and Mike Mitchell's shoulder injury started while at St. Vincent College.
Other than Golson's foot injury, the Steelers have remained a relatively unscathed team in 2016. Anthony Chickillo is nursing an ankle injury, Bud Dupree's groin injury has kept him on the sideline the past week or so, Artie Burns continues to battle a nagging "soft tissue" injury along with Markus Wheaton and Bruce Gradkowski has a hamstring injury which could sideline him for the long-term.
Not only are these injuries relatively minor, with Golson's as the lone exception, they happened to players who should be able to return to the lineup sooner, rather than later.
A big tip of the cap goes to Mike Tomlin, and the coaching staff, for their handling of the veterans throughout camp and the preseason. For the second straight game, the Steelers won't be playing Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and DeAngelo Williams against the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday.
A smart move by a team who's success could be as simple as staying as healthy as possible.
Pictures and Videos
That's a wrap on 2016 #SteelersCamp. pic.twitter.com/B8EvtVK8o6
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 16, 2016
Big props to #SteelersNation from @MikeMitchell34: pic.twitter.com/sCzqvjieGM
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 16, 2016
We love you, #SteelersNation. Thanks for another incredible #SteelersCamp. pic.twitter.com/6OlaqSY3vt
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 16, 2016
That's all folks! #SteelersCamp pic.twitter.com/v7KbHM6z1Z
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 16, 2016
Major love #SteelerNation y'all make training camp that much more special! #DontCrossTheMoats pic.twitter.com/l2oJCbLCYs
— Arthur Moats (@dabody52) August 16, 2016