2022 Steelers’ Training Camp Takeaways

Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett warms up during 2022 Training Camp practice on July 2, 2022 in Latrobe, PA. (Marlon Martin/Golden Sky Media)

LATROBE, PA — Three takeaways from Tuesday’s practice.

1.) The QB competition. It is still not clear who the starter should be.

2.) The Defense. They seem to be playing very fast, they have a lot of energy and excitement. Competition = chippy play.

3.) There were lot of scrums again today, but that confirms the players understand what is on the line and everyone is competing on both sides of the ball.

Wide Receiver Diontae Johnson. (Marlon Martin/Golden Sky Media)

Diontae Johnson continued to practice by himself during Steelers’ Training Camp in efforts of inking a long-term deal with the team.

Roethlisberger Officially Retires

Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in his final game at Heinz Field. January 3, 2022 in Pittsburgh. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — “Big Ben” owns a large piece of not only Pittsburgh sports history, but in the history of the National Football League!

Ben Roethlisberger’s tenure as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers netted him Rookie of the Year in the 2004 season.  Throughout his career he racked up2 Super Bowl wins (on three appearances), 6 Pro Bowls, he led the league in passing twice, and a host of accolades that make him a part of pro football’s elite.

Steelers Make Postseason; Pittsburgh Fans Show Gratitude to Raiders

Steelers’ fan Vic Musgrove (middle) shares a moment with fans of the Oakland Raiders on December 9, 2018 at the Oakland Alameda County Colliseum. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media, FILE)

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — They did their part. However, the Steelers needed help to make the playoffs.

After a win in Baltimore against division rival Ravens on Sunday, the Steelers needed either the Chargers or Raiders to win in order to live another day. The Raiders won on the foot of kicker Daniel Carlson with 2-seconds left to play in overtime, 35-32 in Las Vegas. A tie would have pushed the Steelers out of postseason contention.

Steelers fans showed tremendous gratitude to Carlson’s game-winning kick by contributing to charities he supports.

Pittsburgh visits the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night for the first round of the 2021 playoffs.

Steelers Fall to Chargers on the Road

Fisheye view of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers on November 21, 2021. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

LOS ANGELES (GSM) -Sunday Night Football concluded with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming up short against the Los Angeles Chargers. Final score: Steelers 37 – Chargers 41.

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin checks the scoreboard during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers on November 21, 2021 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

In his post-game press conference, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin said his team has work to do in the area of tackling and other core fundamentals if they want to be successful in the near future.

 

Steelers and Lions Tie

Lions’ running back D’Andre Swift carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 14, 2021 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — Legendary R&B group the Dramatics had an ear-catching song titled, “I wanna go outside, in the rain!” There were a lot of “dramatics;” coupled with a rollercoaster of emotions in the game between the Steelers and Lions at Heinz Field.

“It might sound crazy,” but the Steelers were complicit in helping the Lions avoid a potential 0-17 season in a 16-16 tie game Sunday. The final score was 16-16 and the first time the Steelers finished with a tie since Sept. 8 2018 against the Cleveland Browns at First Energy Stadium. The last time the Lions ended in a tie was one year to-the-day afterwards against the Cardinals, 27-27 on Sept. 8, 2019.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin following the game against the Detroit Lions at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin, clearly upset about his team failing to squeak out a win, addressed the media after the game. He said his teamed lacked, “Core fundamental things.” In his remarks, the frustration continued, “We didn’t tackle well enough throughout the game defensively. In the most critical moments we didn’t maintain possession of the ball on offense, and so we’ve got to accept responsibility for the outcome of the game, and we do.”

Steelers wide receiver James Washington scores a touchdown on a pass from Mason Rudolph to give Pittsburgh the first score of the game against the Detroit Lions. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

Pittsburgh’s lone touchdown in the game was on a 9-yard pass from Mason Rudolph to WR James Washington in the opening drive. The rest of the scores were from the leg of place kicker Chris Boswell. The Lions, however, scored two touchdowns but a missed extra point from Ryan Santoso locked them into their score.

Next week, the Steelers travel to Los Angeles to face the Chargers who are at 5-4 and in 2nd place in the AFC West.


BRIAN COOK IS AN EMMY-NOMINATED INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SINCE 2005. HE CAN BE REACHED AT BCOOK@GOLDENSKYMEDIA.COM.

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