The Steelers are counting down the days before training camp opens. Who are the players under the spotlight for reporters? Two of them shared their thoughts recently on the Steelers Collective podcast, offering names to watch early on in Latrobe. None of them, certainly, are unfamiliar names, but each offers some intrigue.
“I’m interested in seeing Will Howard” when the Steelers open training camp, Mark Kaboly said. “If he can take that major step forward … and if he can carry that throughout the process, I’m gonna be keeping a look on him. I think that’s quite important. I’m not gonna say that he’s not a lock for the roster, I just think they’d have to readjust some things [and carry] four [quarterbacks]”.
Howard is the Steelers’ second-year, former sixth-round cornerback who suffered an injury in training camp last year. The injury caused him to miss most of camp and the entirety of the preseason. Since then, they have drafted Drew Allar in the third round. But they are still ostensibly exploring him as a potential starting option for 2027 and beyond.
Right now, Howard is competing to back up Aaron Rodgers, though Kaboly doesn’t see that happening. In fact, he predicted the Steelers won’t keep him on the 53-man roster no matter how good he looks in training camp. He did allow the minute possibility they keep four, but he predicts they will keep three.
Another name Kaboly wants to see when the Steelers open training camp is their rookie first-round pick, Max Iheanachor. “Is he gonna be overwhelmed, or is he gonna be up for the task right away? I think we’ll find out within the first week”, he said. “I think he has an opportunity to start if he really really shows that he can handle the Highsmiths, Herbigs, Watts”.
While considered raw by some, Iheanachor has respectable college starting experience. He will challenge Dylan Cook in training camp for the Steelers’ starting right tackle job, or so it seems. Cook is not exactly an incumbent himself, having spent most of last season on the practice squad. But he impressed well enough during a cameo at left tackle late last season that he is allowed first dibs. Iheanachor is clearly the future for the Steelers, but the question is when that future begins.
While not a rookie, Rico Dowdle is a veteran new to the Steelers and the player Ray Fittipaldo named to watch out for. “Just because he’s new and he’s gonna have a prominent role in the offense”, he said. “What does he look like? How is he gonna fit into the offense? We’ll see that once the pads come on”.
Of course, with an almost entirely new coaching staff this year, the Steelers should have a very interesting training camp. And they have a lot of new faces, young and old, including rookie WR Germie Bernard and veteran CB Jamel Dean. What are the Steelers’ plans for Jalen Ramsey this season, and how will Jaquan Brisker look in his first training camp in Pittsburgh? And, heck, why not look forward to watching Drew Allar? He might not sniff the field this year, but they drafted him as a lottery ticket out of quarterback purgatory. In theory, nothing that happens for the Steelers in training camp this year is more important than what he does. Not unless they win the Super Bowl, at least.
Recommended for you