Steelers notes: T.J. Watt, others who missed minicamp opener return for Day 2
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A day after acknowledging excused absences for star defender T.J. Watt and two other players for the opening of mandatory minicamp, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin seemed to confirm perfect attendance for Day 2 of the three-day annual June practice period.
“I think we did,” Tomlin said when asked if all 90 players on the roster were accounted for.
Watt, punter Pressley Harvin III and reserve offensive lineman Ryan McCollum were spotted inside the Steelers locker room during periods open to media Wednesday. All were on hand for all or most of organized team activities, the three weeks worth of practices that are not mandatory per the NFL/NFLPA collective bargaining agreement.
Tomlin used Watt’s one-day absence as an example to explain that even when players the caliber of Watt are taking part in on-field practices that they might not be prominently featured in drills during summer work.
“There are things that come up, and we are afforded the opportunity to kind of take care of people in their individual needs this time of year,” Tomlin said, “and when we have an opportunity to do so, we do.
“But more important than that is when people miss work, it’s opportunities for others to elevate in the groups in which they work, the number of reps they get. We’ve got some veteran players out here, whether they are here or not, I minimize them in environments like this.”
Tomlin cited 13-year veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson as a player whose reps might be restricted so that rookie cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice can get more work.
For the 928th straight practice/OTA/minicamp/training camp session, Mike Tomlin follows it by saying, “Had a good day…” pic.twitter.com/ZX4FjEYq6X
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) June 14, 2023
Holding his cards
In part because it sounded as if he was interested in seeing how the rest of the league adapts to it, Tomlin did not shed any light on how the Steelers would approach the new rules that allow for fair catches on kickoffs.
A day after special teams coordinator Danny Smith said the strategy of whether to kick it short or instruct returners to call for a fair catch would be “situational” pending the time of year or game, Tomlin said he “had no idea” how the new rule would be approached tactically.
“I don’t think that any of us do,” Tomlin said. “I think anything that we say this time of year is somewhat speculative and so I will hold my cards.”
In what is only a one-year trial in 2023, NFL kick returners for the first time can now signal for fair catch anywhere inside their own 25-yard line, which will result in his team’s offense beginning with possession at the 25.
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