Steelers inside the ropes: On soggy day, Hakeem Butler holds onto ball, makes plays

Despite being a highly regarded prospect and fourth-round draft pick, Hakeem Butler never has caught a pass in an NFL game.

If the 27-year-old wide receiver continues to play like he did Saturday in his third practice of training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he might get a chance to end that drought this season.

Signed out of the XFL after stints in Arizona, Carolina and Philadelphia, Butler had two of the best catches on a day when practice conditions were altered by a heavy rainstorm that hit Saint Vincent in the second hour of the afternoon workout.

Both catches came after the rain had subsided. In a seven-on-seven period with Mitch Trubisky running the second-team offense, Butler ran a go-route. He was covered by fellow XFL player Luq Barcoo, who got his hands on the ball but knocked it into the air. Butler wrestled the ball away from Barcoo and covered the rest of the distance untouched for the score.

In the final team period, with Mason Rudolph at quarterback, Butler caught another deep pass along the sideline, this time beating cornerback Madre Harper.

While neither catch came against first-team competition, the 6-foot-5 Butler could put himself in position to earn a roster spot behind Diontae Johnson, George Pickens and Allen Robinson if he turns in more plays like he did Saturday.

• Because of morning rain, the Steelers conducted individual drills on the turf practice field but returned to the regular grass fields once it was time for team portions.

• Coach Mike Tomlin took the microphone and addressed the fans before practice, making sure to recognize Hall of Honor representative Aaron Smith, who was on hand.

• Defense won the day in the opening “seven shots” period by a 5-2 count.

• Pickens opened seven shots by dropping a pass from Kenny Pickett in the back of the end zone. Elijah Riley was trailing in coverage.

• Pickett bounced his second attempt on a pass to Najee Harris. His third pass attempt was batted down by Cameron Heyward.

• Pickett got a score on his fourth try when he found tight end Zach Gentry in front of linebacker Chapelle Russell.

• Tre Norwood got extended time with the first-team defense in seven shots, joining Riley, Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal in the starting secondary at times.

• Trubisky was 1 for 3 in seven shots. His lone score came when he found tight end Connor Heyward in motion. Heyward caught the low pass as he sprawled across the goal line.

• A fade by Trubisky to Cody White was too high. Rookie corner Cory Trice had good coverage.

• Seven shots ended with a Trubisky-to-Gunner Olszewski completion that was a yard short of the goal line.

• Rookie tight end Darnell Washington was on the field for the final play of seven shots, but when he committed a false start, he was removed in favor of Rodney Williams. Washington also had a drop in the initial team period.

• Pickett had some difficulty with low snaps from Mason Cole. It happened twice, with one turning into a broken play and the other resulting in an incompletion. Later, Pickett had a nice back-shoulder completion to Anthony McFarland along the sideline.

• Kazee had an interception on a high pass that was tipped by Washington.