If I had given you seven guesses as to which Pittsburgh Steelers rookie would have the biggest role early in training camp, you probably wouldn't have used any of them on Robert Spears-Jennings. Ironically, it's the former Oklahoma safety who has found more opportunity than anyone else so far.
The Steelers' 224th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft has spent the first two weeks of practice not rolling out onto the field with the reserve players, but with the first-team defense.
And lets' be real: sometimes you just have to get lucky.
Veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey began training camp on the PUP list, and that's where he remains. The eight-time Pro Bowler can be seen on the sidelines during practice holding a play sheet. We don't know exactly when he'll get back on the field.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are easing veteran DeShon Elliott back into action as he continues to work his way back from a devastating hamstring tear and hyperextended knee suffered in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers last season. It also helps Spears-Jennings' cause that the Steelers recently cut veteran Darnell Savage. Now, newcomer Rashawn Jenkins is busy learning the ropes.
Robert Spears-Jennings must capitalize on golden opportunity at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp
Because of the injuries and roster moves at the position, Spears-Jennings has had the privilege of running with the first-team defense. But it's only a matter of time before the seventh-round rookie is handed an inevitable demotion.
When Ramsey, Elliott, Brisker, and Jenkins are all healthy and practicing at the same time, it only makes sense that Spears-Jennings will take a backseat —which is why he needs to make a splash now.
Spears-Jennings has an intriguing physical profile. At 6'2'' and 205 pounds, the Oklahoma product possesses blazing 4.32 speed and massive 10 3/8'' hands (good for tackling and making plays on the football). Now it's time to put these traits on full display.
Spears-Jennings was gifted a golden opportunity to run with the starters early at Steelers training camp, but that hardly guarantees him a role on defense or even a spot on the 53-man roster this year.
The rookie hasn't been bad, by any means; he's simply been quiet. As a defensive back, sometimes this is a good thing—it means you're not getting picked on often enough for the media to point you out. But in the case of Spears-Jennings, the young safety needs to find a way to leave his mark this summer, as his finite window of opportunity with the starters will eventually close.
Add us as a preferred source on Google