Everything You Absolutely Need To Know About Steelers Training Camp 2026: Day 2

Day 2 at 2026 training camp for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Latrobe, PA, saw another sunny day, full of position battles still taking shape. There was a similar structure compared to Day 1, and some players continued their dominance. 

Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. had another outstanding day in pass coverage. During one play in particular, he was able to cover ground to break up a throw that was intended for a wide-open Pat Freiermuth. Samuel received plenty of cheers from the crowd, and was an obvious energy jolt on defense for the second day in a row. 

There were a few other players that stood out on Thursday as well, however. It was clear that many of the team's stars are already looking to have an All-Pro-caliber season.

1. DK Metcalf And Chris Boswell Are In Midseason Form

Thursday saw an extended special teams period where fans got to see not only Cameron Johnston punt the football, but the field goal unit set up for several Chris Boswell field-goal attempts. Every single one went through the uprights, and just about all of them were likely good from 50-plus yards out.

During several offensive periods, the chemistry between quarterback Aaron Rodgers and star wide receiver DK Metcalf looked effortless. They even found the end zone later in practice as Metcalf bullied rookie cornerback Daylen Everette for a towering touchdown from Rodgers. The two veterans were crisp in the two-minute drill as well, and this is the second day in a row where they appeared to be on the same page throughout practice. 

2. DeShon Elliott Is Back In The Starting Lineup

On Day 1 of training camp, it was Darnell Savage Jr. that was taking first-team reps with the starting defense. Thursday, it was DeShon Elliott back deep in the secondary. He looked to be his old self, flying around in coverage and even taking a hard fall to the ground during one play specifically. That should tell fans that he has no limitations, and the injury he suffered last season against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8 should be far behind him. 

Moving forward, especially until Jalen Ramsey returns to the field from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, fans should expect to see Elliott and Jaquan Brisker hold down the starting safety positions, and excel while doing so. 

3. Offensive Line Shuffle Options Are Working

Initially, Spencer Anderson got the nod to start off at right guard entering camp. On Thursday, Brock Hoffman ran with the first-team offense and held his own throughout the day. He also took a couple reps at center. Former first-round pick Broderick Jones has seen time at both left and right tackle, and 2026 first-rounder Max Iheanachor saw both first and second-team reps at right tackle.

When Dylan Cook wasn't starting at right tackle, he saw time with the second unit at left tackle. It's clear that new head coach Mike McCarthy is trying to find the right combination of linemen that will best propel this team throughout the regular season. So far, it appears that several players are excelling at multiple positions early in camp. 

Steelers Are Building A Strong Foundation Early

Overall, there was a lot to like again during practice. Stars are shining, and young players are continuing to battle. The QB2 race continues to heat up as Will Howard had another great practice (despite throwing a late interception to Sebastian Castro), and the wide receiver room may be deeper than fans originally thought. 

If McCarthy and new offensive line coach James Campen can figure out the correct starting lineup for the front five, that could seal the fate for a promising offense. If the defense can continue to lean on the impact the secondary has been making early on, this all could be the perfect recipe for a surprising Steelers team. 

What are your thoughts on this Day 2 summary? Be sure to follow @BWall on X for live training camp reporting, and subscribe to YouTube.com/@BWallToTheBurgh for more exciting news and updates.

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