Another year of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is in the books. Now Mike Tomlin's squad will look to escape the preseason without any major injuries and begin game planning for the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 of the regular season.
Training camp is an extremely important time for NFL players to develop chemistry with their teammates, execute their assignments, and show the coaching staff how they can help the team in the upcoming season. The Steelers dealt with their share of bumps and bruises over the past three weeks, but their preparation at camp will ultimately make them a better team.
Every year at Steelers training camp, some standout performers are worth mentioning. Based on performance, hype, and media recognition, here are my training camp awards for the Steelers in 2024.
Steelers training camp superlatives 2024
MVP: QB Justin Fields
Justin Fields wasn't perfect, but he was exactly what they needed him to be. As veteran quarterback Russell Wilson dealt with a calf injury to begin camp, Fields stepped up and became the head honcho of the team. Fields' performance improved throughout camp and he shined under the biggest lights (literally) during the Steelers' Friday Night Lights practice.
As the Most Valuable Player award frequently goes to a quarterback at the end of the NFL season, Fields gets my award for MVP of Steelers training camp after showing leadership, poise, and the ability to lead his offense to scoring drives.
Comeback Player: QB Russell Wilson
After dealing with an injury, Russell Wilson had to work hard to get back on the field at Steelers training camp. Eventually, his participation ramped up and he ended up running team sessions with no limitations by the end of camp. Fortunately, Wilson's pinpoint accuracy and spectacular passes down the field made it feel like he was never absent. He gets my award for Comeback Player of Steelers Camp.
Most Improved: CB Cory Trice Jr.
After the first week of camp, Steelers media wasn't convinced Cory Trice Jr. was going to have a spot on Pittsburgh's roster this year. Trice ran with the third-team defense early in camp and eventually worked his way up the ladder. By the third week of practice, Trice was working opposite Joey Porter Jr. on the first-team defense while Donte Jackson was sidelined. This is the progression we hoped to see.
Most Consistent: WR Van Jefferson
Van Jefferson should have changed his name to 'Steady Eddie' for the summer. The savvy veteran modeled consistency and reliability to the rest of Pittsburgh's young receiving corps throughout camp. Jefferson's crisp route running and strong hands gave Justin Fields and Russell Wilson a reliable target they could turn to.
Most Surprising: DB Ryan Watts
The final pick of seven selections by the Steelers in the 2024 NFL Draft, Ryan Watts wasn't expected to make a splash during his first training camp. Despite shifting from a college cornerback at Texas to a safety and dime defender in his first summer in the NFL, Watts didn't disappoint. The gritty defensive back showcased versatility that could land him on the final roster and have him carving out a role early in his career.
Most Exciting: LB Payton Wilson
It would be easy to gift-wrap this award to wide receiver George Pickens for his ridiculous catches at camp, but Payton Wilson was just as intriguing. The All-American linebacker out of NC State showed outstanding speed, quickness, and play recognition, which had some in the media drawing player comps to a Steelers legend. Wilson was exciting at Steelers training camp from start to finish and he's expected to offer a spark to the defense very early on.
Camp Darling: CB Beanie Bishop Jr.
In year's past, it's been easy to point out the 'training camp darling'. In 2022, that was running back Jaylen Warren. Last year, it was Nick Herbig. This time around, it was a bit more difficult to hand this label to a player at Steelers camp, but I ultimately went with Beanie Bishop Jr. The undrafted rookie quickly found himself working with the first-team defense. His foot quickness and scrappy play caught the attention of both the fans at Saint Vincent College and the Steelers' coaching staff.