The Pittsburgh Steelers underwent the team's first practice in full pads on Wednesday, but the team reverted to just wearing helmets and shorts on Thursday. Whenever training camp comes around, especially padded practices, fan bases are always worried about the health of the roster. Players go down often due to the heat and minor injuries, but fans are always looking out for the more serious cases. Pittsburgh has been lucky to avoid those so far, but there have been some guys getting banged up throughout the start of training camp, especially on Wednesday when the team was wearing full pads.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mike Tomlin watches practice heading into a Week 17 matchup against the Chiefs during the 2024 season.
The biggest injury news thus far in training camp has all come on the left side of the offensive line. Isaac Seumalo started camp off on the non-football injury list, but he has since been elevated and is easing his way back into practicing. Broderick Jones also suffered a soft tissue injury and he is working his way back too. On the other side of the ball, Pittsburgh had three defensive tackles go down due to injury on Wednesday. Head Coach Mike Tomlin shared during a media scrum on Thursday that Dean Lowry, Jacob Slade, and Esezi Otomewo all went down on Wednesday with knee injuries.
The severity of the three knee injuries is unclear, and the head coach shared that the players are going through further evaluation to get clarity on the injuries. It is fair to say that none of the players were a lock to make the final roster, and they were all battling against one another to earn a roster spot. Lowry played in some meaningful spots for Pittsburgh in 2024, but he was also a healthy scratch at times. He contributed five tackles and one sack on the season, as well as one pass breakup.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Dean Lowry during his first training camp in Latrobe ahead of the 2024 season.
Defensive tackle is a spot where Pittsburgh wants to have some solid depth. This is a key factor in stopping the run as the Steelers like to rotate guys out to keep players fresh as the game moves along. While the severity of the three injuries is unclear, it is safe to assume that they will all miss some practices, which should open up some more opportunities for the other guys at the bottom of the roster. This could be good for Pittsburgh as it might open the eyes of the coaching staff when it comes to the talent of some other players.
An interesting name to watch throughout the rest of training camp is going to be Logan Lee. Lee was a rookie during the 2024 season, but he essentially red-shirted the year as he suffered a season-ending injury early on. He was a sixth-round pick, so the expectations for him are low, but if he can turn into a solid rotational piece on the defensive line the Steelers will end up being very happy with their selection. He is one of the players that will likely be getting more reps due to the injuries on the defensive line.
Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers
Defensive lineman Logan Lee at the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2024 rookie minicamp.
Steelers' Dean Lowry Is An Important Veteran Presence
Hopefully none of the injuries that Tomlin mentioned are serious, as all three players should be afforded a decent opportunity to make the final roster. This is especially true for Lowry who is a well-respected veteran in the league. He had success as a starter with multiple organizations, but he has accepted a smaller role in Pittsburgh. He should be seen as a leader in the locker room despite the fact that he does not see the field much. He will be a large loss for Pittsburgh if he can not get back quick, and the fan base won't know the severity of his knee issue until further testing is finished.
What do you think about the new injuries popping up for Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments below!
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