5 Issues To Look For Throughout Steelers’ First OTA Classes

The Pittsburgh Steelers will start their organized crew actions subsequent Tuesday, which is the primary probability for the total crew to take part in on-field actions. Whereas there gained’t be any contact and all the things might be performed at a walk-through tempo, there’ll nonetheless be lots to remove from seeing the crew line up for the primary time.

WILL AARON RODGERS SHOW UP?

We’d have the reply to this query earlier than OTAs formally start. The Steelers have been linked to the free agent quarterback since March, and with OTAs marking the beginning of crew actions, it could be a great time to have Rodgers within the constructing. If the crew does signal him, he might be their beginning quarterback, and getting him within the constructing and dealing along with his teammates as early as attainable could be excellent.

There’s an opportunity that Rodgers indicators after OTAs and exhibits up for Obligatory Minicamp on June 10, as OTAs are nonetheless voluntary. But when he doesn’t signal by minicamp, then there may be some trigger for concern about whether or not he’ll play in any respect subsequent season. He very nicely could possibly be within the constructing by subsequent week, and heading into OTAs, whether or not he might be is the largest query for Pittsburgh.

WILL HOWARD’S PERFORMANCE

Howard, the Steelers’ sixth-round choose, has been a buzzy title since being drafted. At rookie minicamp, beat writers praised his poise and management, and whereas he possible gained’t play a lot as a rookie, there’s nonetheless plenty of intrigue round him. That’s regular for a rookie quarterback, however it’ll be attention-grabbing to see what Howard appears to be like like taking part in with Pittsburgh’s total offense.

One other subplot might be how the reps are distributed between Howard and Skylar Thompson. Howard is extra prone to make the roster than Thompson is (if the Steelers signal Rodgers and solely hold three quarterbacks), however it wouldn’t be shocking if the reps have been pretty even or if Thompson bought just a few extra early on in OTAs.

Howard’s efficiency is actually value monitoring, even when his anticipated contributions in 2025 will possible be minimal.

WHO IS THE BACKUP NOSE TACKLE?

We gained’t get a transparent reply on this throughout Day One, however it is going to be a bit bit telling based mostly on the rep distribution. With Montravius Adams minimize, who the crew’s nostril sort out is behind Keeanu Benton is a bit unclear. Logan Lee, Pittsburgh’s sixth-round choose final season, labored at nostril sort out some throughout coaching camp final 12 months. Yahya Black, Lee’s teammate at Iowa and Pittsburgh’s fifth-round choose this season, would make plenty of sense as a possible choice, however Karl Dunbar mentioned the crew views him as a defensive finish.

Whether or not that holds true stays to be seen. The timing of Adams’ launch coming proper after the NFL Draft was curious, and if Black traces up inside at nostril, it is going to be an indication that the crew, at a minimal, thinks he can transfer round, and he could possibly be in competition for the backup job. Different choices may embody Jacob Slade or Domenique Davis, though each are lengthy photographs to make the roster. It’s value maintaining a tally of for a place that could possibly be necessary for the Steelers.

INJURY RECOVERY

The massive query right here might be OT Troy Fautanu – Fautanu suffered a knee harm forward of Week 3 that ended his season. He spent most of 2024 on IR, and what number of reps he will get and the way he appears to be like might be value noting. P Cameron Johnston additionally tore his ACL in Week 1 and missed the season, however he’s been again working and needs to be at or near full power. The identical goes for LB Cole Holcomb, who returned to observe late final 12 months however missed the complete 2024 season after a knee harm ended his 2023 season early.

Fautanu is the largest title to observe, and the Steelers predict massive issues from their first-round choose final 12 months. He’s anticipated to slip proper in because the starter at proper sort out, and he’ll be a key piece in serving to Pittsburgh’s run sport enhance and retaining whoever their quarterback is upright.

RUNNING BACK REPS

The Steelers have plenty of working again depth this 12 months, even after shedding Najee Harris in free company. Jaylen Warren is predicted to be the starter at the least to start the season, however it’ll be value watching to see how a lot Kaleb Johnson will get combined in. Even behind these two, the combination between Kenneth Gainwell, Cordarrelle Patterson, Trey Sermon, and gamers like Evan Hull and Jonathan Ward might be attention-grabbing.

Johnson is a perfect match for Arthur Smith’s scheme, and his function may enhance all year long. However Warren, deservedly, ought to get the primary crack on the starter job, and I feel we’ll see that mirrored throughout OTAs. The competitors behind him and Johnson might be enjoyable to observe, as Gainwell will possible earn a roster spot, however it could possibly be three canine and one bone for the spot behind him, if the Steelers even choose to hold 4 working backs on the roster.