Minor injuries plague much of the WR corps; Cody White a beneficiary of increased reps

Chris Adamski
Wednesday, June 14, 2023 5:10 p.m. | Wednesday, June 14, 2023 5:10 p.m.

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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

In his fourth preseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers, wide receiver Cody White had been taking a role on the first-team offense during organized team activities and minicamp this month.

There are 13 wide receivers on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster. Only one has a tenure with the team that predates Cody White.

Paradoxically, though, only two are younger than White.

“I guess they call me a vet,” White said Wednesday before cracking a smile, “but I am still one of the younger guys on the team, so it is good.”

White, 24, is in the early stages of his fourth season as part of the Steelers’ wide receivers corps. And for many on-field team drill sessions in recent weeks, White confirmed, he’s been taking first-team reps.

That it’s happening primarily only because of what are considered minor injuries to a host of others (Allen Robinson, George Pickens, Miles Boykin) doesn’t make the reps any less significant for White.

“You always try to take advantage of the opportunity that’s given,” White said Wednesday following the second of three mandatory minicamp practices this week. “Coach (Mike Tomlin) says it all the time, ‘One man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity,’ so I have been just going out there trying to make plays. And I feel like I have been doing a good job.”

White confirmed he was with the first-team offense during a practice-ending 2-minute simulation drill Wednesday.

Undrafted out of Michigan State in 2020, White landed on the Steelers’ practice squad in September of that year after bouncing around between three other teams over the summer.

He’s remained with the Steelers since, appearing in 16 games — including 15 during the 2021 season. He has six catches for 35 yards in addition to 114 snaps played on special teams.

The only receivers in the position room who are younger are Calvin Austin III and undrafted rookie Jordan Byrd, but the only peer who’s been with the Steelers longer is Diontae Johnson.

“For sure, I definitely feel comfortable here,” said White, whose father, Sheldon, is the Steelers’ director of pro scouting. “Four years in one place, you are definitely going to find the nuances and be able to get the details within the offense and the team and just that camaraderie that you bring.”

White has size (6 feet 3, 215 pounds) and proven production in college (143 catches for 1,967 yards and 12 touchdowns in 25 games). After his lone 2022 appearance came in a November game at the Indianapolis Colts, White is hoping to re-earn a role like he had the prior season when he was the No. 5 WR for the Steelers.

“That’s the goal — to have a ‘hat’ (Tomlin parlance for being a gameday active) every week,” White said, “and be able to produce for the team and make plays for the team. Just be that guy who can plug and play, can go anywhere, go play inside, outside, everywhere on special teams and be that glue guy who’s just sticking around.”

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