Teresa Varley

Sunday, August 24

Communication on point:It's a word that has been used a lot over the last few years when talking about the Steelers defense, and sometimes, that hasn't always been a positive.

Communication.

Throughout the offseason, communication is something defensive players have focused on improving, and it appears they have done just that.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. even said communication is the secondary's biggest strength right now.

"It's really grown over the past couple of weeks," said Porter. "Just being with each other in camp, and finally we're all healthy and on the field at the same time. So really just our communication and flying around.

"I feel like communication is always the key. It's always a part of any great defense. And if it's not right, then it's going to be questioned. But I feel we've really stayed on top of that this whole offseason."

On Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers in the preseason finale, the Steelers starting secondary of Porter, Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay and DeShon Elliott were all on the field together for the first time, and communication wasn't an issue.

"I feel like it worked a lot," said Porter. "Coach (Mike Tomlin) being on us from the jump and telling us what we needed to work on last offseason. Coming in with new pieces, everybody learning the new defense, well at least those two guys (Ramsey and Slay), I feel that was really the main thing for our checkoff list and that's what we did so far."

The starting unit played only one series, but Porter said they wanted one more series, simply because of their love for being on the field.

"We all were kind of itching to get back out there," said Porter. "We've been waiting to go against somebody else, and they finally got us dressed up, we're going to want to spend a little bit longer."

It's that competitive spirit, that desire to be on the field, that has Porter, Ramsey and Slay all wanting to go against the opponents No. 1 receiver. Porter knows it's a role that Ramsey, a 10-year veteran, will likely have, but he also knows others will get their shot.

"It's great. We all love to compete. We are all competitors," said Porter. "Coach already told us that we're all going to have our chance to be that guy.

"So, when your name is called, you've got to step in and make those plays. And we're willing and all prepared to."

Just being himself:Quarterback Skylar Thompson might have opened the eyes of some fans and media during the preseason, but there is one person who wasn't surprised by the success he had.

That's because he expected it.

Coach Mike Tomlin knew what Thompson, who was signed early in the 2025 offseason, could bring to the offense, and he didn't disappoint.

"He's got playing experience," said Tomlin. "This guy started games in Miami. I think that experience shows. And we're talking regular-season games."

Thomspon completed 41 passes for 498 yards and four touchdowns in three preseason games, seeing more playing time than any of the Steelers quarterbacks, especially with rookie Will Howard sidelined with a hand injury.

He took advantage of every rep, playing with an ease that comes from being in the league now for his fourth season.

"I feel like sometimes in the past, I've tried to be too perfect, and I feel like that's kind of taken away from me being myself," said Thompson. "That's the biggest thing that I've learned coming into this opportunity, I got to be myself.

"I can't be something that I'm not. I feel like when I have that approach and that mindset, I make more plays than I don't. I feel like that set me free coming into this preseason, and has allowed me to go out there and have fun playing the game again and loving playing with my guys.

"This team is awesome, and I have a good group of guys around me that has made this experience great. I think there's a lot of things that have contributed to me feeling that way. But that's my mindset, come in there and play free and let it loose and have no regrets when I walk off the field."

Thompson has soaked in all of the knowledge he has gained in training camp and the preseason working with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has helped everyone on offense grow in their own way.

"Having Aaron in the room, being able to learn from him, he's been tremendous," said Thompson. "It's all around just been a great experience. And I feel confident with what I've done."

Thompson has welcomed being in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's system, but he also has picked up a lot from what Rodgers has brought with him from his past experience.

"Aaron has brought some great concepts in that he's run in his past and he has a lot of experience with," said Thompson. "Obviously he's able to explain it really well and explain his thoughts and stuff. So, I've just been trying to be a student of the game still and trying to learn as much as I can. I'm trying to get better from my past experiences in Miami and make those experiences help me be my best self when I've gotten here.

"And I feel like that's happened and makes me feel good about it."

Accepting the challenge:Veteran guard Isaac Seumalo has heard the narratives attached to the Steelers' offensive line, specifically the ones about inexperience being a potential individual and collective concern.

He's not about to argue.

"What people are saying is true, it's not like it's not true," Seumalo acknowledged after practice today. "We are young. We are inexperienced. We do have work to do. At the end of the day we have the tools at QB, at running back and the skill positions. It's going to come down to the O-line.

"It's a little weird for me sometimes because I know I'm not necessarily young and inexperienced. But I know my role, and it's to play at a Pro Bowl level and help guys where I can and lead. You know, I'm not a big speaker, anyway. But In the O-line room I know when it's appropriate to speak, and to help guys and meet them kind of at eye level, if that makes sense. It's never me or coaches domineering over players.

"It's a group effort. We're all a reflection of each other. The better we all do, the better everybody does."

Seumalo stands out up front as a 10-year veteran on a starting five that includes third-year left tackle Broderick Jones (in his first season on that side of the line) and three players entering their second NFL seasons, center Zach Frazier, guard Mason McCormick and right tackle Troy Fautanu (who missed almost all of his rookie season due to injury).

The need for leadership is apparent and it's a responsibility Seumalo is embracing.

But he intends to lead as he sees fit and as he believes he should, as opposed to trying to fill a leadership void.

"Self-awareness is the biggest thing you can have in terms of football, life, too, but really football, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, what you can work on, what you can't work on," he continued. "So I'm never going to be somebody that is unauthentic or comes off as fraudulent. Me working on speaking more, necessarily, in that regard, is not going to come off, I think, as very receptive.

"But me speaking 1-on-1 with the guys, or in the O-line room, or on the field and communicating with 'Brod' and Zach, that's always stuff that I can try to make a priority for myself. But working on stuff that would be unauthentic is not something I'm interested in."

With the exhibition schedule behind the Steelers and preparations for the regular-season opener on Sept. 7 at the New York Jets about to commence, Seumalo is pleased with the progress he's seeing this preseason.

"I can only speak for the O-line room, but look's good, a lot of improvement from last year for young guys," he assessed. "Obviously, having 'A-Rod' (quarterback Aaron Rodgers) helps a ton, a future Hall-of-Fame dude, he's locked into everything.

"Troy and 'Brod' have looked really good and Zach, Mason and 'Spence' (backup guard Spencer Anderson) have all Improved and look good, too."

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

Bringing you the action:For fans who don't want to miss any of the action, NFL+ is here, which means you can now watch the Steelers live and on the go! Watch live local and primetime regular season games on mobile, plus NFL RedZone, NFL Network, live audio and more - all in one place.

**Sign up today**.

Saturday, August 23

Ready to attack rehab:As he was on a cart heading into the locker room near halftime in Thursday night's preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers, the look on No. 1 draft pick Derrick Harmon's face wasn't good.

He came off the field a little earlier in the game after getting hit in the knee, and the severity of it was something he didn't know.

"Yeah, I just got hit on the knee on a play before," said Harmon. "Played through it the next play. I felt it. Just wanted to get it checked out.

"I didn't know what it was at the time. That's why I was so in that mood, in that head space. So pretty much it."

There was good news, though.

Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Thursday night, and reiterated it on Saturday, that Harmon suffered a knee sprain and is week-to-week.

"I thought it was serious, but it wasn't that serious," said Harmon. "But still something I've got to be in the training room to get my rehab. That's my focus right now, to attack rehab and do what I have to do to get back on the field."

When Harmon came back to the field after the half, he sat on the sidelines talking with veterans Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt. The two shared some words of wisdom with him.

"Really just don't get too much in my head," said Harmon. "Injury is part of this game and at this level is part of what we do. So, they were trying to keep my hopes up and keep me mentally prepared and mentally focused.

"Once I got next to my teammates, they cheered me up. They told me get out of my head. That's what they really told me. So, that's why I was laughing like that. It just put it in good spirits, telling me you're going to be all right.

"Definitely frustrated. Last preseason game and really excited to get out there in the regular season and compete at a high level. It sucks, but it's part of the game we play, so just got to attack this rehab."

While getting back physically is the main focus, being a rookie Harmon knows he has to stay on top of the mental side as well, something he can't let slip.

"Stay in the playbook, staying up to game speed," said Harmon. "Knowing what I got to do even though I'm not going to probably be out there, but still be up to game speed and know what I've got to. Take it week-by-week and to the best of my ability attack this rehab."

Great to be back:One player Coach Mike Tomlin said was back on the field on Saturday was receiver Calvin Austin III.

Austin didn't play at all in the preseason, but was happy to get some work on Saturday.

"It felt great," said Austin. "It's always good to be in a competitive scenario in practice and actually get to compete against your teammates. So, it was good to be back."

While Austin has been working during the time he was out, he said one area that he needs to still get up to speed on is his football conditioning.

"Probably the only thing that I'm far back in, if I'm being realistic, is my conditioning," said Austin. "Besides that, everything else is pretty smoothly."

With the regular season opener against the New York Jets two weeks away, getting to the point he is now is perfect timing.

"The only way you can get better is by being out there," said Austin. "So, I'm just thankful and blessed to be healthy and be back out there."

The key factor for Austin throughout his injury was staying active, which has meant be present for everything, including meetings, film study, practice and more.

"Since this happened in camp, my process was the exact same as everybody else," said Austin. "I was in all the meetings, walkthroughs, everything. So, I really didn't miss a step mentally or anything.

"That's why I said the biggest thing was just getting that conditioning back. Even if you are conditioning, just running and stuff is always different than getting reactionary football condition."

He has also developed his relationship with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. While he might not have been on the field catching passes, the work was still being done and the relationship has grown.

"It hasn't been a challenge at all," said Austin. "We were in those meetings. When he communicates, he doesn't communicate with one person. He goes to all the receivers, tight ends, running backs in meetings. The only thing that I have to get up back on page with is running the routes and stuff. Besides that, we communicate, and everybody's been on the same page."

Never say never:Rookie Yahya Black did something in Thursday night's preseason game against the Carolina Panthers that he has never done before in football.

He had two sacks in a game, with back-to-back sacks in the third quarter, something he didn't do in high school or college.

"Never," said Black. "Never. I had five and a half in a career at Iowa."

After the sack, Black did a celebration where he rubbed his belly. The celebration has gone viral, and it's one he is proud of.

"It just felt right," said Black. "I mean, I've got a belly, so yeah, it works."

Black, who at 6-5, 336 pounds, is a mountain, has a knack for batting down passes, something his size helps with but there is more to it.

"It's a little bit of both," said Black. "It's skill development, how you work on it and see things go your way."

Black is already benefiting from the coaching of defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, someone who doesn't mind challenging young players to step up.

"He's got that personality where he's going to get on your back and really push you to be your best self," said Black. "So, you always want to show up for him, too."

See you in September:The release of veteran long-snapper Jake McQuaide implied the Steelers anticipate incumbent Christian Kuntz will be healthy and ready to play in the regular-season opener on Sept. 7 at the New York Jets.

Kuntz removed any doubt after practice today.

"Oh, we're playing," Kuntz insisted. "We got two weeks left, we'll be good, for sure, yeah, 100 percent. Snapped today, so we'll be good."

McQuaide replaced Kuntz in Thursday night's preseason finale at Carolina. Kuntz was injured on Aug. 16 against Tampa Bay.

First-year defensive lineman Logan Lee long-snapped in Kuntz' absence against the Buccaneers.

Kuntz has appeared in 68 consecutive regular-season games since joining the Steelers in 2021. He anticipates no restrictions associated with his injury by the time the Jets game rolls around.

Who does the punting against the Jets, and the holding for kicker Chris Boswell, has yet to be determined.

Cameron Johnston, who started last season as the punter but was lost for the season in the opener at Atlanta, and Corliss Waitman, who took over after Johnston was injured, remain in competition for those jobs.

But Kuntz is convinced the Steelers will be getting their kicks in the kicking game however the roster reduction to 53 shakes out.

"Both punters are top-tier punters in the league," Kuntz insisted. "Whoever it is is going to do a great job, and 'Boz' is "Boz.'"

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

Steelers make moves:In case you missed it, on Friday the Steelers made their first wave of roster moves as they work to get to the mandatory 53-man roster by Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 4 p.m. The team released 11 players, including five on offense, five on defense, and one on special teams.

Among those released were:

Defense:

Linebacker: Kenny Willekes

Defensive Backs: Kam Alexander, Quindell Johnson, Kyler McMichael, Mikey Victor

Offense:

Offensive linemen: Doug Nester, Julian Pearl

Quarterback: Logan Woodside

Running Back: Evan Hull

Tight end: Kevin Foelsch

Special Teams:

Long snapper: Jake McQuaide

Bringing you the action:For fans who don't want to miss any of the action, NFL+ is here, which means you can now watch the Steelers live and on the go! Watch live local and primetime regular season games on mobile, plus NFL RedZone, NFL Network, live audio and more - all in one place.

**Sign up today**.