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It's been a week of work for the Pittsburgh Steelers and, by all accounts, Mike Tomlin has pushed his team to the max every time they stepped foot onto a Saint Vincent College playing field. However, what comes with this hard work are those nagging camp injuries --hamstring tightness, dehydration, groin injuries and the like.
This is the stage of the game where the Steelers currently find themselves as they prepare for the first day off of the 2018 Training Camp.
After practice Monday, Mike Tomlin ran down the list of players who were banged up, and verified what was reported on Ramon Foster.
Foster should be out for around four weeks, and the hope is to have him back and healthy for the start of the regular season. Tomlin also verified the bone bruise and hyper-extended knee as the actual injury.
Other than Foster, the rest of the injuries were categorized as minor by the head coach, and should be day-to-day issues.
Monday’s workout saw Morgan Burnett return to the practice field after having some hamstring issues, but plenty of other players sat out or left the workout early for various reasons. Here's a quick rundown of those players:
JuJu Smith-Schuster (DNP — Knee)
Vance McDonald (DNP — Foot)
T.J. Watt (DNP — Hamstring)
Sean Davis (DNP — Groin)
Artie Burns (Left Practice — Groin)
Again, Tomlin described all these injuries as minor, even McDonald’s, who wasn’t at practice, so the day off should do them well.
Time to go back over the other nuggets from Steelers camp:
James Washington flashing the skill
While at Oklahoma State, James Washington was known as a big-play receiver. In fact, he was the best deep-threat receiver in the NCAA in 2017. But he can do a lot more than just catch the deep ball. At Monday’s workout, Washington put on a show with a dazzling one-handed catch for a touchdown.
James Washington makes a one-handed catch in the back corner of the end zone and keeps his feet in bounds. Malik Reaves in coverage. #Steelers #dkps
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) July 30, 2018
Conner continues to show promise
James Conner showed up to camp in better shape and with a better understanding of what it takes to be successful at the NFL level. He's had a very good camp thus far by all reports, and broke off a big touchdown run during the team’s live-tackling segment. Good news for Conner and the offense, but c'mon defense!
James Conner goes for a long touchdown. Gets a nice block from Justin Hunter to spring it. This is live tackling, too. #dkps #Steelers
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) July 30, 2018
2 straight days Terrell Edmunds picks off Big Ben
Terrell Edmunds stunned the crowd with his juggling interception of Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday, but his interception on Monday was far too easy. Roethlisberger’s pass was errant because the receiver didn’t look back for the ball -- and he let them know about it too.
Another Terrell Edmunds INT of Roethlisberger during team drills. His one was easy after Brown went the wrong way.
— Ray Fittipaldo (@rayfitt1) July 30, 2018
Roethlisberger Just chewed out the receivers for not looking back after Justin Hunter doesn’t run under a deep one. #Steelers #dkps
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) July 30, 2018
Time to put it on the field
Last year, Justin Hunter lit up the practice field yet didn’t shine when the lights were brightest. The same thing is happening this training camp, but will Hunter get a chance to prove himself on the big stage and, if so, will he perform?
Justin Hunter is doing his ridiculous-catch thing in practices again. After nine targets last year, gotta expect that to rise with Martavis Bryant out.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 30, 2018
Slim Ben
Ben Roethlisberger reported to camp weighing 250, I was told. Usually, he's in the 260ish range when he reports. @TheAthleticPGH
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) July 30, 2018
The funny thing about this report is the Steelers' official website has Roethlisberger listed at 240-pounds. I know these media guides fudge the numbers a bit, but 20 pounds?
STOP THE PRESSES!
The Steelers actually ran a quarterback sneak during live drills...with Ben Roethlisberger under center.
A surprise from Steelers practice - offense appeared to simulate QB sneak w/ Ben Roethlisberger on its own 1-yard line. Staff had opted against such a move in past despite Roethlisberger expressing willingness to do so. Roethlisberger was not hit, of course.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 31, 2018
VIDEOS
#LIVE: Coach Tomlin addresses the media following practice at #SteelersCamp. https://t.co/brMfulJlwr
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 30, 2018
Tyler Matakevich, Mike Hilton and Jaylen Samuels continue to focus on individual skills development during the early days of #SteelersCamp. pic.twitter.com/jAYy0EosbT
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 30, 2018
PHOTOS
Rain stopped so it’s time to work. @_BigBen7 @MaurkicePouncey @VinnyVidiVici98 @rell_island6 pic.twitter.com/IBtsurAzCB
— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) July 30, 2018
New Pitt basketball coach Jeff Capel chatting with Mike Tomlin before Steelers practice. pic.twitter.com/cI6JLHBw6Q
— Lauren Kirschman (@laurenkirschman) July 30, 2018
Cool moment after practice today when @CamHeyward was given a Pitt game jersey worn by his dad, Craig ‘Ironhead’ Heyward. pic.twitter.com/On58yeBhal
— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) July 30, 2018