For the second consecutive day to begin Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, the No. 1 wide receiver provided a brief scare.
On Friday, it was when Diontae Johnson walked slowly away from the gathered team during practice to a tent, where he eventually got onto a golf cart and was taken away from Chuck Noll Field at Saint Vincent College. Coach Mike Tomlin later said that Johnson’s departure a mere perhaps one-third of the way through team drills was attributed to the heat on what might end up being the hottest day of camp.
“We had a couple of guys that weren’t able to finish because of heat-related things,” Tomlin said, “and it’s probably routine this time of year. (Defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal) missed a block of time. I think he was able to come back, Diontae, (tight end Conner Heyward). So, we’ll just keep an eye on those guys and hopefully we get another hot day out here (Saturday).”
Johnson, on Thursday, landed awkwardly after a catch along the sideline, his cleats slipping to tear up grass. Although Johnson did not get up for several moments and limped as he made his way back to the huddle, he only missed one practice rep.
On Friday, Johnson took part in the “seven shots” two-point simulation drill but at one point appeared to pull up lame. But when Tomlin was pressed as to whether Johnson’s departure from practice was injury-related, Tomlin rebuffed it by saying, “Heat-related, like I said.”
Loves the heat
Temperatures in Pittsburgh were well into the 90s on Friday, and they were expected to hit the 90-degree threshold in Unity Township, too.
Tomlin, though, was dressed in black from head to toe, with long sleeves and long pants.
“Loved the heat,” Tomlin said, “and I mean it.
Mike Tomlin, dressed in black for head to toe, likes the heat (it was to get into the mid 90s today) pic.twitter.com/AmY5Fx20vm
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) July 28, 2023
“It’s uncomfortable, but it aids in development individually and collectively. Guys get an opportunity to develop and display conditioning. The atmosphere is challenging from an assignment standpoint in terms of staying wired into fatigue and being able to execute, whether it’s assignments or fine motor skills. It’s just a really good environment for us to get to know them, for them to get to know themselves and in a really challenging way. The flip side of that though is we’ve got to really be professional, take care of our bodies, hydrate, keep this group up, man, because availability is also a really big, big component of improving it.”
No Fitzpatrick
All Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick again sat out team drills. Tomlin did not provide an update. On Thursday, Tomlin brushed Fitzpatrick’s status off, indicating it was his veteran status that precluded the need to take part in practice. But players on the team who are as much (or more) accomplished and are older than Fitzpatrick — Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt prime examples — have taken on regular workloads.
Fitzpatrick has watched team drills from his familiar “centerfield” position well behind the defense. During individual drills, at some points Fitzpatrick jogs or works on agility drills on his own.
Veteran Keanu Neal has regularly been taking first-team reps alongside Damontae Kazee at safety during practices.
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