While it will take more than just a few good practices to save their roster hopes, these five Steelers need to start off camp hot if they want a chance at sticking around.
Training camp is a time for players to show what they can offer a team as a player. While every camp will have its fair share of winners, it will also consist of players fighting for their roster lives. The Steelers are no exception, as plenty of players enter this season on the proverbial bubble. If they have a slow start to camp, they may further dig their own grave.
Here are five Steelers who need a hot start to training camp to remain relevant.
Steelers Joseph
A former first-round pick, Karl Joseph has had his share of success in the league. He has been a starter for most of his career, and while never a dominant defender, he has been effective. He was unremarkable last year with the Steelers though, and the road hasn’t gotten much easier for the veteran.
The issue he faces is his limited ability beyond what he provides for a defense. Joseph has next to no special teams ability, and with both of the starting safeties set, it means his role is purely as a backup. Those limitations kept him off the field last year and will likely prevent him from making a serious push at a roster spot this year.
If Joseph wants to have any shot at making the roster this season, he needs to have a strong start to camp and look like an impact player. While expecting him to be valuable on special teams at this point suddenly is unlikely, he can be worked onto the defense as a third safety. He needs to come out firing though, or else his tenure with the team will likely be short.
Steelers McFarland
A name that has been all hype but almost no production, this year is likely make or break for Anthony McFarland. The former fourth-round pick was brought in to be a quick change of pace back, but injuries and poor play have held him up. 2022 is likely his last chance, as a slow camp will lead to him being cut.
The Steelers seemingly envisioned him as the backup to starter Najee Harris last camp. He was used in a variety of ways, and there were even packages designed to have both of them on the field at the same time. An injury kept him out of action for the beginning of the year, and when he finally got healthy, he never established a solid role.
Luckily for him, the Steelers barely invested in the running back position this offseason. That means McFarland still has a good shot of sticking around. That said, he needs to make an impact early in camp if he wants to hold on to his roster hopes. Frankly, if he can emulate what we saw in camp last year from him minus the injury, he doesn’t just have a good case to make the roster, but to be the primary backup at running back.
Steelers Johnson
Another former fourth-round pick, Buddy Johnson enters a really weird training camp. On paper, Johnson looks the part of a Steelers linebacker. He has good size and tested well as an athlete. He has a hard-hitting nature that is focused on stopping the run. Despite those positives, Johnson barely made the field last season.
While a fourth-round pick shouldn’t be counted on to make an impact right away, Johnson is entering camp at one of the most crowded positions. The top three linebackers are set, which leaves the bottom four players jostling for a spot on the depth chart. Johnson could very well beat out his competition, but that is far from a lock.
What he really needs to do is stand out in camp. He has all of the traits to flash there, so a strong start can earn him more reps quickly. As well, he really needs to make an impact on special teams. That is his best path to playing time this season. If, however, he starts off slow, Johnson could quickly get buried on a deep depth chart.
Steelers Miller
A name that is quickly forgotten about on this roster, Anthony Miller isn’t just in the race to make the roster at receiver; he could realistically start in the slot in week one. He has experience and pedigree there, and frankly, there aren’t many options besides him to fill in. That said, the receiver room has quite a bit of competition as of this writing.
The top four spots are set with both the starters and the two rookies. While certainly not a lock, Gunner Olszewski is a special teams player and returner and seems like a safe bet to make the roster. That leaves one spot left (potentially) for a receiver to take. Miles Boykin can certainly make a claim to that role given his past production.
Miller needs to make a positive impact early. The team can pencil him in to start in the slot sooner than later if he does. Add in his former connection with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and there is little reason that Miller shouldn’t be noticed early. In a crowded room, he will need to find a way to stick out early in training camp.
Steelers Rudolph
Seemingly everyone’s least favorite quarterback as of now, Mason Rudolph is in a weird spot. While the only veteran with experience with the team, he is being inserted into the quarterback competition and could seemingly end up anywhere. The team is treating him like a potential starter, he plays more like a backup, and there is even a good argument that he won’t make the final roster.
With all of these questions, Rudolph needs to come out and make an impact quickly in camp. Frankly, there is little excuse for him otherwise. He has been a part of this program for five seasons now. He knows the ropes and the expectations. That gives him a leg up over his competition.
Even if he isn’t going to start, Rudolph has to look good early in training camp. If not, he may quickly fall down the depth chart and be off the roster sooner rather than later. He has no excuse at this point not to look good in camp. If he falters, the team has plenty of options to play in front of him.
With training camp just around the corner for the Steelers, quite a few players will be fighting for their shot at the roster. These five in particular need to stand out from the pack early. If not, they are apt to get lost in the shuffle.