Steelers Are "Finalizing" Deal With Helpful NFC Foe For Training Camp

There will be quite a few camp competitions to look forward to for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2025 training camp. Defensive line will be fun to watch, especially with two rookies battling for starting jobs. Wide receiver could also be interesting. However, going up against the same players over and over again could be deceiving. Preseason games do help with that, but with one less game prior to the regular season now, it can be a bit tougher to figure out those battles, and each rep means a lot more than it did when there were four preseason games. 

That's why teams like the Steelers are having more joint practices in training camp. In fact, Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Head Coach Todd Bowles made an appearance on the Pewter Report Podcast to announce that his team is finalizing a deal to have joint practices with a pair of AFC teams, including the Steelers. 

As Mark Kaboly mentioned, the Steelers play against the Buccaneers in the middle of preseason, so that joint practice will likely occur during the week before. That also means Pittsburgh will almost certainly host the practice somewhere in the Steel City. Before that, Tampa Bay will likely host the Tennessee Titans in its facility before playing them at Raymond James Stadium. 

The Steelers will not play the Buccaneers in the 2025 regular season, so it's not like either team will be scouting each other out for the short-term future. It's just a good way for both teams to get better, as they will face a different scheme and a different talent level on multiple fronts. There will be quite a few things to watch out for in these joint practices on both sides. 

Steelers Have Battles To Watch Against Buccaneers

Rookies Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black will get plenty of reps against Mason McCormick and Troy Fautanu. That will be a challenge in itself, but the Buccaneers' right side of the offensive line is nothing to scoff at either. Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke are very capable linemen, and they have a little more experience than the Steelers' unit. They could give Harmon and Black some looks that the rookies won't see in their own training camp.

The Buccaneers have a very big, feared defensive line of their own. Not only will the Steelers' offensive line have problems stopping them, but the running game will too. If Kaleb Johnson wants to prove that he should be the starter, he will have to perform against a strong defensive front led by Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. McCormick and Fautanu will have challenges against that duo as well. 

Coaching plays a role in this as well. Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith may be a well-respected offensive mind, but Bowles is a veteran defensive play-caller that is not easy to go against. Smith himself is also a veteran coach, but it doesn't hurt to challenge Bowles and pick his brain a bit so he can be more prepared to face other quality defensive coaches in the 2025 season.

Either way, there is a lot for both teams to learn in this. Bowles will probably challenge Smith and pick his brain as well to help his team prepare for the season. This is a great thing for both teams, and it will present a better opportunity for players to move up the depth chart or even make a case for them to be on the 53-man roster. Of course, the finale of these joint practices will be an actual preseason game at Acrisure Stadium.

What do you think about the Steelers and Buccaneers having a joint practice in training camp? What battle are you most excited to see? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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