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The Pittsburgh Steelers were back out on the field Friday for the last day of training camp, and head coach Mike Tomlin and crew were ready to get this new year started right.
When fans think of the entire training camp process, they usually think of the development of players, rookies and free agents new to the team, those great camp battles but for me it is all about health.
Can the team avoid those nasty, and unfortunate, training camp injuries?
In this regard, 2020 was a success for the Steelers. Other than David DeCastro unknown lower body injury, the Steelers are a team who is extremely healthy heading into the regular season. Even players who have the label as injury prone attached to their names, like James Conner, Eric Ebron, Vance McDonald and Stephon Tuitt, they are all ready to go for the upcoming season.
Music to my ears...
There was other news from Day 13 of training camp practice...
Let’s get to it...
Injury Report
Speaking of that DeCastro injury, here is a quick update from Mike Tomlin:
Mike Tomlin said Dave DeCastro wasn’t able to practice today, but he is hopeful he will be able to practice next week. They have a bonus day due to playing on MNF so it may not be early in the week. Good news apparently for the Steelers O line.
— Ray Fittipaldo (@rayfitt1) September 4, 2020
Good news was how Cam Sutton (calf) returned to practice Friday, as did Chase Claypool (undisclosed).
Banner on 2020
What is the difference between Zach Banner in 2019 and Banner in 2020? He knows what is at stake this season, and his chance to become the starting right tackle of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It may sound corny, but that isn’t something Banner takes lightly.
This per Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
Zach Banner on his philosophy finally getting a chance to be an NFL starter this year as he fights for the Steelers RT job pic.twitter.com/3z7WBf5vmb
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 4, 2020
Day-to-Day for Edmunds
Terrell Edmunds has been banged up throughout training camp, but has returned to practice over the past week. This is an injury Edmunds said is a lower body injury, but he feels pretty good. He said he will be ready to go before the team travels to New Jersey to play the New York Giants on Monday Night Football in Week 1.
Terrell Edmunds -- who's missed some time during training camp with a lower-body injury and has been wearing a brace on his knee -- said he feels pretty good.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) September 4, 2020
Banner will be back
Leading up to training camp, Zach Banner made a name for himself on social media. He posted about hot topics surrounding society and grew quite a following. However, he ditched social media during camp to focus on himself. It worked well, but don’t worry all you tackle eligible followers — Banner will be back this weekend.
#Steelers RT Zach Banner says he'll be back on social media tomorrow. But he credits and lauds LT Al Villanueva for encouraging him to take this one-month phone hiatus. (Little known fact: Al traded in his phone for a flip phone a few months ago. A FLIP PHONE.)
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) September 4, 2020
Just gotta convert
Terrell Edmunds has had his share of opportunities since being drafted in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, but he hasn’t converted on many of those opportunities. He realizes this, and understands the criticism he has received. However, he also knows he can only convert on the opportunities which present themselves. Something he plans on doing a lot of in 2020.
'It's like the old saying, 'you just have to catch the ones that come to you.'' - @rell_island6 on creating more turnovers this year
— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) September 4, 2020
Another weight loss success...kinda
So far James Washington and Benny Snell Jr. have been proud members of the Pittsburgh Steelers Weight Loss Club. You can count Zach Banner into that group, who has dropped down to 335 this offeason, but he isn’t done. In fact, Banner wants to drop another 5-10 pounds to make him lighter on his feet.
Zach Banner said he has dropped his weight to 335 pounds. He would like to be between 325-330 by the end of the season.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 4, 2020
Communication is key
Playing along side a player like Minkah Fitzpatrick has to be fun. After all, the Pro Bowler and All-Pro safety had an immediate impact on the defense. Edmunds is looking forward to a second year with Fitzpatrick, and making a huge impact on the defense in 2020.
Terrell Edmunds on looking forward to a second year next to Minkah Fitzpatrick pic.twitter.com/6f3IezFU0H
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 4, 2020
PODCAST
A recap of the day’s happenings, in audio form:
Live Look-In at Practice
Sorry fans, there was no live look-in for the final day of training camp.
Mike Tomlin Post-Practice Conference
Sorry fans, the Steelers didn’t put the Mike Tomlin press conference on Twitter.
Video
It'll be a busy weekend ahead as the @steelers prepare their move back to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex!@missi_matthews brings you one final report from #SteelersCamp at @heinzfield!@FedEx pic.twitter.com/3Jm7Ko5LL8
— Steelers Live (@SteelersLive) September 4, 2020
Photos
That's a wrap from @heinzfield for @steelers training camp, as Coach Mike Tomlin always had the best seat in the house.
— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) September 4, 2020
| @steelers pic.twitter.com/JnO7lrKkwg
Caption this....
— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) September 4, 2020
| @steelers pic.twitter.com/Zt3F9k4HK5
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