Steelers who should be demoted at training camp immediately

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some noteworthy players at practice, but these three should be demoted in the training camp pecking order immediately. 

It’s crazy how vivid things become when you watch Steelers training camp practices first-hand. During my time at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, it was easy to see which players were standing out as well as who was struggling play after play.

It didn’t take long for a high-profile player like George Pickens to turn heads. Sadly, for every player who stands out in a positive light, there seems to be one who is completely unimpressive.

The Steelers won’t release their first official depth chart until just before the start of the 2022 season, but it’s interesting to see some of the players they have working with the first and second strings. Here are three players they should bump down in the pecking order at Steelers training camp right away:

Steelers WR Cody White

I don’t have a beef with Cody White. I think he has done a serviceable job thus far at training camp. However, I have to admit that I think the Steelers are wasting valuable first-team reps on a player who isn’t even likely to make the roster.

Early at camp, Pittsburgh was without Diontae Johnson. While he has returned, Chase Claypool is still nursing a shoulder injury. Instead of rewarding a more impressive player like Anthony Miller or Miles Boykin with added opportunities, it is White who has benefited the most.

White is entering his third season in the NFL. He’s been almost exclusively a practice squad player. In the limited time that he has seen the field, he has just 5 catches and averages 6.6 yards per reception.

White’s 4.66 speed hardly makes him a threat on offense. Though he’s got quality size, he doesn’t even seem likely to make the roster because of his special teams ability. This is one of those situations where the Steelers are simply being loyal to the guy who has been around the facility for a few years, but his first-team reps need to go to a better player.

Steelers OG Kendrick Green

The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to have a hard time admitting when they were wrong. This is the same team that allowed Jarvis Jones to start for four years and didn’t realize Artie Burns was no good until the final year of his rookie contract. Most recently, they aren’t willing to give up on Devin Bush (who looks less than stellar at training camp).

Now it seems that Pittsburgh is too prideful to demote Kendrick Green. The former third-round pick was criticized heavily during his rookie season after some ugly play at the center positon last season.

To open training camp, the Steelers are trying to force Green to be a guard despite his 6’1 7/8”, 305-pound frame. Green, meanwhile, has struggled with power and he’s not looking great at camp.

Kevin Dotson seems to be the clear best option at left guard, yet the Steelers keep rotating these two in and out of the starting lineup every day. This song and dance needs to end, and Green needs to be demoted.

Steelers OT Trent Scott

I have no idea what the Steelers intend to do with Trent Scott, but he hasn’t looked good in really any situation. He and fellow backup OT Chaz Green are largely responsible for why the offensive line has looked so bad at times at Steelers training camp.

Surprisingly, Scott has been getting the nod over swing tackle Joe Haeg. While I certainly don’t think that Haeg is an irreplaceable player, there’s a night and day difference between the two when you watch them in person.

Haeg is just a much better football player and really is the only viable option to be Pittsburgh’s swing tackle this year (barring an outside signing). The team needs to stop wasting valuable reps on Trent Scott. He hasn’t played well enough to earn a roster spot.

We are still early in August and it’s possible that these three players can improve. However, with better players at the position for each of them, Pittsburgh needs to demote these three in the pecking order at Steelers training camp.