The Steelers wrapped up their final of three mandatory minicamp sessions at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex Thursday. It's the final stop before transferring activities over to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., at the end of July for training camp.
There is plenty to take away from these three days of football-in-shorts practices without overdoing them before real activity ramps up one month from now. Here are three observations from the three days this past week:
1. A rejuvenated Russell Wilson
After two tumultuous years in Denver, Wilson has a golden chance to revitalize his career with this one-year deal with the Steelers. Wilson has been engaged in every step on and off the field, from showing up in full capacity at OTAs and minicamp to being active in the Pittsburgh area. He is all bought in, and the reception for Wilson's involvement from the coaches and players has been positive all around.
Wilson is in "pole position" for the Steelers' starting quarterback job, as Tomlin and Smith have noted, but that doesn't mean Justin Fields has not or will not push him with some competition. Wilson said he's feeling rejuvenated by his fresh start in Pittsburgh.
"I feel the fountain of youth. I feel revived in every way," Wilson said. "Mentally, emotionally, spiritually. I feel confident. I think at some point you've got to know who you are as a player, as a man, as a competitor, as somebody whose been fortunate enough to play this game. I don't doubt it. I'm just going to trust it. I felt really good last year playing. I felt really confident in the midst of everything.
"So I think, right now, I have all of that confidence times 10. I'm just using it all. You just trust it. You take one day at a time and you just put in the work. I think that's the part that I love. There's nothing like doing the work. There's no substitute. There's no substitute for hard work, and that's the part that I love."
2. Najee Harris' thoughts are still unknown
Harris has not spoken to reporters since the Steelers declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract in May. Harris was excused from Tuesday's practice and did not take snaps Wednesday and Thursday despite being present at the team's facility. Harris declined interviews in the open locker room session to reporters following Thursday's practice.
Harris was, technically, available to speak, so he likely will not be subject to fines for not speaking. Harris was set to earn $6.79 million in 2025 if the Steelers retained his fifth-year option, but he will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2024 season unless an extension is agreed upon between now and then. The Steelers declining Harris' fifth year was a surprise to many, as it has been stated ad nauseam that the Steelers had been building their offense around running the ball with Harris and Jaylen Warren leading the charge.
Mike Tomlin said Wednesday Harris' absence and subsequent lack of participation was not injury related.
"I know a lot about some of those guys. I know less about some of these others," Tomlin said. "And so, I like to focus my energies on those that are working and not those that are moving out of the way at times to see others."
3. Laying the foundation
Tomlin spoke about the "football-like" activity that helps build the foundation for what they want to accomplish in training camp. In OTAs, the Steelers practiced more individually with their position groups, but team activity ramped up this week. That included more seven-on-seven situations, red-zone situations, and two-minute situations.
"It's been a good offseason," Tomlin said. "Got a lot of good work down. Laid some foundational things. Excited about the group, but I'm sure everybody is this time of year. It's kind of good to learn without consequence and each and get to know one another and standards of expectation and those some of the things that we've been focused on."
Wilson was all about the two-minute drill from Tuesday.
"Two-minute is everything," Wilson said after Tuesday's practice. "That's where you win the game. You've got to love the game and the excitement on the line in the fourth quarter. You've got to love those fourth-quarter moments. I look forward to them."
