Steelers' Mike Tomlin Gives Promising Updates On Key Injuries To Starters

The Pittsburgh Steelers have dealt with many injuries in training camp so far this offseason. That trend finally seemed to have lightened up on Tuesday. There is a joint practice and two preseason games left to go before the Steelers start preparing for their Week 1 regular season game, hopefully with more key players active than what they ended camp with. They can't afford to have some of these guys out for a long period of time. 

Luckily, it sounds like reinforcements are on the way soon. After training camp concluded this week, Head Coach Mike Tomlin gave an update on a pair of probable starters and their recovery.

Calvin Austin III got injured back on Friday Night Lights on August 1st, and he has not participated in practice since then. There was not much of an update between then and now, so fans started to get concerned that he might have a more significant injury. It sounds like whatever he was dealing with is almost healed up completely, which is very good news for the team.

Austin was named as the second starting wide receiver earlier in the offseason by Wide Receivers Coach Zach Azzanni. While Austin has been out with injury, multiple players have been making their case for the starting spot. When he gets back to practice, he will have to hit the ground running to make sure he doesn't lose his role to guys like Roman Wilson. That position battle should definitely be very interesting all the way up to the first week of the regular season. 

Meanwhile, Jonnu Smith's injuries have definitely been concerning, as he has been on and off the field with a multitude of issues. Hopefully, taking multiple days off in a row will help him heal up entirely, and working out back in Pittsburgh could potentially help as well -- as opposed to the heat of St. Vincent College. Only time will tell on that front.

Smith was brought in to be the X-factor for the Steelers on offense. He is expected to line up at receiver, tight end, and even get some reps in the backfield. After a career year in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh is looking to capitalize on his momentum and versatility, especially with a receiver room that is projected to be near the bottom of the NFL. He can't be on and off the field each week like he was in Latrobe. 

The other part of the trade with the Dolphins, Jalen Ramsey, seemed to pick up where he left off before his injury. He went back to being a positionless player in the secondary and making some plays. His versatility is also expected to be a key piece of the 2025 Steelers, and his ability to play safety is especially needed. 

Numerous Steelers Have Benefitted From Extra Reps

As mentioned before, Wilson has been making his case to be in the starting lineup for Week 1. After early chemistry issues at practice that led to him becoming a bubble player, he flipped a switch and started making all kinds of plays, including a pair of receptions in the Preseason Week 1 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He likely won't back down without a fight once Austin comes back into the fold. 

With Smith being out of the picture, Darnell Washington has flashed his receiving abilities that few knew he had, including a great touchdown reception in the preseason opener. He is proving himself to be a quality route runner and great red zone target. He went from being rumored to be switching to offensive tackle, to becoming a legitimate threat in the passing game and adding yet another viable option in the middle of the field.

What do you think about Austin, Smith, and Ramsey's updates on their injuries? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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