Thursday’s practice at Saint Vincent College focused on preparation for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ upcoming preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coach Mike Tomlin outlined his expectations for the team, emphasizing discipline and execution.
“Part of being a good team is not beating your own butt,” Tomlin said. “So we’re focusing on some things relative to that. We’re looking for guys to make routine plays routinely. We’re looking for pre-snap cleanliness on both sides of the ball. From a penalty perspective, I expect the offense to manage the play clock, to manage shifts and motions in a clean manner. I expect the defense to be ready if there are changes of pace in terms of how the opposing offense is operating. I expect the guys to ball key, meaning to not be in the neutral zone and provide free yards and free plays or free first downs on possession downs.”
During practice, players worked with a running 40-second play clock and participated in situational football drills, including a session dedicated to two-minute scenarios.
The “7-Shots” drill included debate over whether Jaylen Warren’s opening run resulted in a touchdown, which impacted whether the offense won 4-2 or if a seventh decisive play was needed. On that final attempt, Rodgers connected with Scotty Miller at the back of the end zone, but Scouting Coordinator Casey Weidl ruled it incomplete despite claims from offensive coaches and players.
In two-minute drills, Mason Rudolph led one drive that ended with an incomplete pass on fourth down after advancing into opponent territory. Skylar Thompson took over as No. 3 quarterback due to Will Howard’s finger injury and completed several passes before Lew Nichols ran in a touchdown.
Tomlin also provided an update regarding player availability for Saturday’s game against Jacksonville. He stated that several starters—including Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith, Pat Freiermuth, Jaylen Warren, Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, Jalen Ramsey, DeShon Elliott, Patrick Queen, Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig and Chris Boswell—would not participate in the preseason opener due to various reasons such as injuries or rest. Four other players—Calvin Austin III, Alex Highsmith, Cory Trice and Donte Kent—were listed as questionable for participation depending on their recovery progress.
