Things are about to get tougher for these players as the dreaded dog days of training camp round the corner. The Steelers have been at training camp for a little over two weeks and that is a recipe for fatigue and heightened stress. Those that are fighting for spots on the roster or roles on the team will need to find ways of pushing through those struggles.
Even though the pre-season schedule is about to kick into high gear, there is a lot that has already been done at training camp. The players will need to take their level up a notch if they want a way to stick around this football team. Sometimes those efforts are not good enough and these players will find it hard to make it on the roster come week one of the regular season.
A veteran tackle might on his way to lose his spot on the 53-man roster
It is possible that the black and gold decide to keep more than three tackles heading into week one. If an injury were to occur between now and the start of the regular season, it is almost cemented that Le'Raven Clark will make the team. Right now, things are looking bleak in his attempt to make the final roster before the official cuts roll through.
He has struggled during practices and routinely gets beat one on one. That is not something a tackle with as much NFL experience as he has should be struggling with. He would not be the worst tackle to have in a fourth spot, but he is not enticing the coaches much to keep him around. With Broderick Jones, Dan Moore Jr., and Chuks Okorafor making the team, it makes little sense to keep Clark around.
An unknown safety for the Steelers might just miss out during final cuts
Safety has become a topic of slight concern during the start of training camp. Minkah Fitzpatrick has returned after being away for a while due to a personal reason that he had to address. He has returned and will work his way back with each passing practice. The real concern at safety has not been Fitzpatrick's absence or the depth at safety but the other starter.
Both Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal have missed a chunk of time due to varying degrees of injuries. Kazee has returned to practice after a couple of days off trying to heal up. Neal has only participated in a few practices, which is concerning for a new addition to this team. Both have been named the co-starters next to Fitzpatrick on the first depth chart of training camp.
Even though the starting spot is up in the air, a couple of other depth pieces could be coming out of the shadows. Elijah Riley could be a safety that could claw his way into the final roster conversation, especially if he can hold his own in the slot. There is another name that has done a lot of good things in camp thus far but is still on the outside looking in.
Kenny Robinson was mostly unknown heading into camp, and he is also a local Pittsburgh product. He has been able to cause a handful of turnovers in practices at Saint Vincent College. He still needs to provide some quality special teams snaps before coaches take him seriously. Robinson could be a good option to store on the practice squad.
An XFL star receiver hasn't shown enough in a crowded receiver room
One thing that is certain is that the Steelers have a strong group at receiver. They are going to have some tough decisions to make when the final cut day finally comes around. The top three starters are set with Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Allen Robinson II barring any crazy changes. Those behind them are jostling for roster positioning.
Calvin Austin III seems to have a spot on this team locked up, but there will likely only be one or two spots available after those four. Gunner Olszewski is having a good start to camp and fits a role that can also be applied on special teams. That could take some out of the equation entirely, but it seems like Pittsburgh will keep six at the position.
That leaves on spot left for guys like Miles Boykin, Cody White, and Hakeem Butler to battle for. Butler is a former fourth-round pick that fought his way to this spot after playing in the XFL this past offseason. He did a great job at being a big target for the St. Louis Battlehawks during his time in that league. He still has a lot to prove this pre-season.
Butler has shown his playmaking ability while utilizing his size at receiver. He has not been able to make routine plays as drops have continued to be an issue. It is unlikely that Butler will win a spot on this roster if he cannot make plays on special teams. It seems like that last spot at receiver is Boykin's to lose with the past special teams experience he has shown.
The Steelers could cut a local Pittsburgh product at linebacker
Everybody loves to see some local Pittsburgh products doing their best to make the Steelers roster. Many have dreamt in this town at some point in their life to make it to the pros and play for their hometown team. Nick Kwiatkoski is living that dream that so many from the city and the surrounding area have always wanted.
It is not all sunshine and rainbows for this linebacker's story as he sits behind a logjam at linebacker. There are six players at the middle linebacker position that have a fair shot at making the team and the initial depth chart did not do Kwiatkoski any favors. He is not banished to the "for sure" cut list just yet but he is getting there.
Sometimes the team will keep six linebackers at the middle spot, but it is not the most common theme for them. They will keep Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts, and Mark Robinson for sure. Those three will make the team. That likely leaves a couple more openings on the final roster. Kwiatkoski will have to push in front of the likes of either Tanner Muse or Kwon Alexander.
The first depth chart has Kwiatkoski behind both of those players and even Chapelle Russell. That is a bad situation for this linebacker to be in and he has an uphill battle to climb if he wants a shot at sticking around this team. He is a veteran with starting experience, but he will need to make his money in the third phase of football on special teams.
It's going to be almost impossible for this rookie to make it in the trenches
There are too many players on the offensive line to pick from right now. The bulk of players will be sifted through as training camp and the pre-season push further. Offensive tackle is fairly cut and dry when it comes to which players seem to have a legitimate shot at making the 53-man roster. Those names include the likes of Dan Moore Jr., Broderick Jones, Chuks Okorafor, and potentially Le'Raven Clark.
When it comes to the interior positions of the offensive line, things get a little fuzzier. The three starters are set with Isaac Seumalo, Mason Cole, and James Daniels from left to right. Kevin Dotson seems like a lock to make this team as an experienced depth piece. Both Nate Herbig and Kendrick Green seem to be potential locks to make the roster with their position flexibility.
That leaves Spencer Anderson in a position where has little to no shot of making this team out of camp. He has shown that he can play across the entire offensive line during his playing days at Maryland. He needs to show more of that during practices at training camp. He is listed at the bottom of the depth chart at guard right now.
Practice squad might be the best outcome for the seventh-round selection of Pittsburgh in the 2023 draft class. He is showing a willingness to try and move around to different positions in practice to show his flexibility. He likely won't make the team this year but could grow on the practice squad and have a better chance next year.
The Steelers need to figure out if Isaiahh Loudermilk has progressed or not
Much like the problem facing the offensive line right now, there are a lot of qualified players on the defensive line. It seems like the roster will fill out with six players across the trenches between their starters and depth pieces. All of Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, and Keeanu Benton are locks to make this team in 2023.
Those beyond that will have to fight their way onto this roster and for certain roles. DeMarvin Leal's spot on the roster is safe, but he will need to iron out his role during the pre-season. That will probably leave two open spots on the defensive side of the trenches for the black and gold. There are a couple of experienced veterans vying for those spots.
Both Montravius Adams and Breiden Fehoko will fight for the nose tackle role and any other depth spots that are up for grabs. It seems like a starting spot that will eventually have Benton filling those shoes. For now, though, Adams and Fehoko will be doing their best to get that spot heading into the regular season.
That brings the question mark of Isaiahh Loudermilk back into the spotlight as it seems like there is little to no room for him on this club. He is a former fifth-round pick and is entering his third season with the Steelers. This is his "make it or break it" pre-season when it comes to the future with him in the Steelers uniform.