3 problems the Steelers are already dealing with in training camp
- The injury bug has struck Steelers camp
- Two positions with concerning performances
By Tommy Jaggi
Wouldn't it be nice if Steelers training camp could go off without a hitch? If only every player could hit the ground running and the injury bug could be avoided altogether. Unfortunately, this just isn't realistic. We've been studying this business long enough to know that players don't always develop as quickly as we had hoped, and that there will be roadblocks along the way.
We are only a couple of weeks through training camp practices, and while there are plenty of positives to note, Pittsburgh has also encountered some problems in the early going. Here are the three biggest problems Mike Tomlin and his crew are already dealing with at Steelers training camp.
3. Steelers have already lost a player for the season
Season-ending injuries are never something that we want to see at any point, but teams know there is always risk involved just preparing for the upcoming NFL season. The Steelers are well aware of this. Last summer, Calvin Austin III and Damontae Kazee were placed on IR before they were able to play a single regular-season snap. Kazee eventually came back late in the season, but Austin was done for the year.
Sadly, the Steelers have already suffered a season-ending injury to another talented rookie. In the very first fully-padded practice at Steelers training camp this year, cornerback Cory Trice Jr. went down with a season-ending injury. This was a non-contact injury and the full details of the injury have not been disclosed. However, the team placed him on IR -- effectively ending his 2023 season before it ever got off the ground.
While losing a seventh-round cornerback doesn't seem like a big deal, Trice was having a strong start to camp as he flashed his athletic traits, length, and ball skills. For a team that suddenly has very questionable depth at the cornerback position, this was an injury the Steelers certainly could have done without.
Trice needed to make the roster first before expecting too much of him, but he was well on track to do so. His departure means that Pittsburgh could be one injury away from disaster at the position. Trice was thought to be one of the best steals of the draft, but the talented CB simply hasn't been able to stay on the field.