Steelers Hit With Injury Bug Now As Several Players Sit Out Of Training Camp

When the Pittsburgh Steelers front office trio of Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan and Andy Weidl laid out their strategy for the 2023 offseason, one major factor was to add depth. After generational defender, TJ Watt missed seven games in 2022 with injuries, the organization knew that they couldn't afford to be caught unprepared again. Despite Alex Highsmith putting together a career season in 2022 with 14.5 sacks, the defense was a hollow shell of itself without Watt in the lineup. The team brought in depth and competition throughout the 2023 offseason, but that isn't because they were hoping for injuries, simply preparing. It's already looking like that was a smart idea.

Steelers Secondary Injuries Starting To Mount

The Steelers have a problem that 31 other NFL teams would love to have; who should be put next to Minkah Fitzpatrick in the secondary? The All-Pro safety has been a foundational defensive piece ever since he was brought in on a surprising, big-value trade in 2019 for a Pittsburgh first-round draft pick. The defender can move around the field and play multiple spots with excellence, but the Steelers already know what is needed to ensure that Fitzpatrick succeeds: balance.

This isn't anything new to Pittsburgh, as Troy Polamalu earned his gold jacket with the Steelers. Polamalu was similar to Fitzpatrick in the do-it-all aspects, but he also needed someone to be the stability to his unpredictability. That is what the front office envisioned for 2023 when they started bringing in safeties by the handful to see who could gel with Fitzpatrick and bring out the best in the secondary and defense overall. After two weeks of training camp, though, their depth at safety that once looked plentiful seems to be dwindling a bit thanks to injuries.

Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal were both already on the injury report going into Sunday's practice. Kazee is working to come back from an ankle injury, but Tomlin hasn't revealed anything specific in regard to what Neal is dealing with. Whatever the injuries are, the Steelers knew that moments like this are simply inevitable during an NFL training camp, so it was next man up. Tre Norwood, drafted by Pittsburgh in 2019, came into the day with an excellent chance to be on the field and showcase why they drafted him in the first place.

According to our very own B-Wall from SteelerNation, Norwood was defending Zach Gentry when the tight end made a catch over Norwood. Following the play, Norwood was seen working with the trainers on the sideline, and he did not return to active practice.

With three safeties now on the injury report, the depth that the front office set out to create is becoming incredibly thin. Having Fitzpatrick back with the team after handling some personal issues is certainly a plus, but with their first 2023 preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looming on the horizon, there are secondary questions to be answered.

Steelers Looking For More Answers After Rookie Injuries

When the second day of the 2023 NFL Draft began, the Steelers were shocked to see one of their primary targets still on the board. It didn't take long for Pittsburgh to turn their draft card in and make Joey Porter Jr. a part of the Steelers' family. Storylines of his legacy and college experience swirled about, but few doubted the impact that Porter would make on the 2023 Steelers defense.

Sunday's practice opened, however, with Porter on the sideline dealing with an ankle injury that was deemed enough to require him to take the day. After fellow rookie cornerback, Corey Trice Jr. went down with a season-ending knee injury, suddenly Porter's ankle seems worse. The two tall cornerbacks had gained the positional nickname "The Avatars", but now we will have to wait until 2024 to see what the two young defenders can do together.

Rookie linebacker, Nick Herbig was another young player on the injury report as he is working back from a hip flexor. The injury is one that has that gray area where it can linger if not handled properly, so right now, it's up to the young Herbig to trust the staff and do the mental work in the meantime. Herbig's brother, Nate Herbig, an offensive lineman, has also been struggling with injuries during training camp, so hopefully, some brotherly love can expedite the healing process.

Dez Fitzpatrick has been looking for a chance to show why he was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, up to now, those chances have been few and far between. In his rookie year, the receiver only managed five catches, though one was for a touchdown. His 2022 campaign was a blank one for Fitzpatrick, without a single statistic recorded. The NFL is about working for second chances, and Fitzpatrick saw Pittsburgh as an excellent environment to grow and bring out the best parts of his game.

The 2023 training camp had different plans for Fitzpatrick, with the young receiver on the injury list dealing with a hamstring. As with many other leg muscle injuries, the possibility for it to become a lingering, even career-long issue becomes very real. If Fitzpatrick really wants his time in Pittsburgh to be that second opportunity, he needs to trust the process and work to get back onto the field. The Steelers brought him into the fold for a reason; now it's up to him to prove them right.

The entire coaching staff is working to get the team ready for their first showing against the Buccaneers on Friday. With these seven contributors working through their respective injuries, we will all have to wait and see which players make it onto the preseason field and which ones are still hoping for a healthy shot at those coveted roster spots. Tomlin wanted competition, and the Steelers are right in the thick of it!

Which injury are you most concerned about heading into the first 2023 preseason game? 

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