The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2026 training camp diary has reached Day 12, and it's been a day of light practices and injury updates. After a couple of days off and some rained-out sessions, the team returned to an open, outdoor practice, but it was a short and padless session, the briefest of the year so far. This light practice made evaluations challenging, but there were still some notable observations and updates to report.
One of the key points is the injury situation. Several players, including WR Brandon Smith, DL Sebastian Joseph-Day, S Jaquan Brisker, WR DK Metcalf, WR Michael Pittman Jr., and OT Max Iheanachor, were not practicing due to various issues. The PUP players, CB Donte Kent, CB Joey Porter Jr., and DB Jalen Ramsey, continue to work off to the side, with Porter and Ramsey pairing up with Kent. RB Rico Dowdle, who missed the preseason game due to a minor injury, was working in full, as was offensive lineman Steven Jones, who returned to team drills after a week-long absence.
There were also some in-practice injuries to note. Kaden Wetjen, who took part in the stretch line, immediately went to the head trainer after feeling discomfort in his left foot/ankle. Safety Israel Mukuamu also got dinged up during the walkthrough and was seen walking off the field with a trainer, indicating there's something bothering him.
The day was notable for its lack of referees on the field, which is a first for the camp. The practice was so light that the quarterbacks and centers didn't even work on exchanges, and the team focused on special teams, starting with field goals. The kick return pairs included Eli Heidenreich and Roman Wilson, and Payton Wilson and Cole Holcomb opened as the wings on the punt team.
The offensive line saw various combinations, with Broderick Jones-Brock Hoffman, Ryan McCollum, and Gennings Dunker among those featured. The defense also had some changes, with Kevin Jobity Jr. at LDE, Gabriel Rubio at NT, and Anthony Goodlow at RDE in one base 3-4 grouping. Wide receivers Cornell Powell and Isaiah Winstead practiced in full, and Levi Wentz had a couple of nice catches during the light session.
The day was also marked by some behind-the-scenes activity, with Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Abe Munayer and Head S&C Coach Mark Lovat taking the field at different times. Mike McCarthy gathered the coaching staff after practice and spoke to them for a few minutes, and players immediately headed to the JUGs machines for extra work.
In terms of personnel, Elandon Roberts swapped digits with Jamin Davis and got back his previous number, 50. Devan Boykin worked at slot corner, his more natural spot, and there was an increase in work for RB Kaleb Johnson in terms of carries. The day was so light that fans seemed confused by what was happening, with many still in the stands as practice ended.
Overall, the day was a mix of injury updates, personnel changes, and behind-the-scenes activity. With rain expected the next day, the team might shift indoors, but for now, McCarthy is taking things easy with the players still recovering from the game. The focus is on serving the players the best, and the team is preparing for the next steps in their training camp journey.
