LATROBE, Pa. -- Up they'd soar, one after the next, seemingly every few seconds, from Justin Fields' right hand deep down Chuck Noll Field. To George Pickens' waiting hands. To Pat Freiermuth's left hand, tipped up, then both. To Van Jefferson in an all-out, straight-line sprint. To Connor Heyward, deftly plucked from a deliberate pack up the left sideline.
If it weren't for the spotless skies over scenic Saint Vincent's rolling hills on this searing Thursday afternoon, these would've been the sweetest sights of the Steelers' training camp.
To say nothing of this pristine placement to a depth-chart tight end, Matt Sokol:
I mean come on this placement is just absurd man. pic.twitter.com/SRueABOirN
β Baku π§ (@Mazursky8895) August 1, 2024
Can't say enough about that one. I was in the end zone to the right, took in the full flight, and still can't believe it fell where it did.
Or this 5-yard bullet to Pickens to punctuate the first two-minute drill of camp:
β PickensBurd (@PickensBurd) August 1, 2024
All. Day. Long. Yet again, as has been the case for a solid week now, Fields has seized upon all these extra reps while Russell Wilson works his way back from a calf strain to make play after play after play, including plenty with the legs:
Itβs the holding up the peace sign for me. βοΈ π
β Baku π§ (@Mazursky8895) July 31, 2024
This red zone offense going to be so fun.
Justin Fields brings so much fun to the offense we have been missing. pic.twitter.com/0986bZLI8t
Look, I get it. None of it counts, particularly within the Kenny Pickett context circa 2023. But the only excellence anyone can achieve is the excellence presented to them and, apart from being picked off on an out route for Connor Heyward -- and even that required Thomas Graham stripping the ball away -- Fields was perfect. Or crazy close to perfect.
And as if that wasn't enough praise ...
#Steelers Arthur Smith likes what heβs seen from Justin Fields pic.twitter.com/vRIjBjnyUB
β 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) August 1, 2024
βI think Justinβs done a fantastic job," Arthur Smith would say after practice, and his perspective kinda does count. "And weβre getting to know him. Russell's time is coming. The good thing is, Russell's been a veteran. β¦ So these are critical reps for Justin.β
Right. That. Exactly.
They're critical reps because, as also was evident on this day, Wilson's within a workout or two of being all-the-way back. And when he's back ... well, not to be the bubble-burster or buzzkill or whatever, but Fields will be right back behind Wilson for the foreseeable future.
That's what I was told here by those who'd know, and I have every reason to trust that. The general thinking within the Steelers is that, while all concerned are genuinely excited about Fields' reads, accuracy and care for the football, Wilson's obvious edges in experience and consistency will rise above any short-term sentiment when it comes to starting in Atlanta and beyond. From there, Fields can keep progressing, as management believes he has already, putting him in position to take over in 2024 if needed, possibly in 2025 for good.
Also, I'm told this: There's no way they're keeping Fields on the sideline regardless of starting status. There are too many things he can do that other humans can't. I've got zero idea how, but they'll have him involved.
β’ No movement yet on any potential extension front. Meaning Cam Heyward, Pat Freiermuth or Najee Harris.
β’ The goal's very much to add an impact wide receiver. I know of Chris Halicke's source for the Insider lede a week ago, and it's as legit as it gets. I don't often feel the need to echo any of our reporters' work, but I'll do so in this case.
β’ Still in the market for a safety, as well? With all these three-safety sets? With how many of them fell in 2023? Stay tuned.
β’ The curious case of not bringing Markus Golden back was solved on this day by ... you know, bringing Golden back. It never made sense that he wasn't retained after a superb-for-a-backup 2023 -- 4.0 sacks and 13 quarterback pressures on only 88 pass-rush snaps -- and it made even less sense that he really wasn't ever replaced. And don't presume that Nick Herbig did that or will do that. Not as No. 3. The Steelers see Golden as far superior at stopping the run, and that'll almost certainly mean Golden gets more snaps than Herbig again.
β’ Now, that having been said, the Steelers are using three outside-linebacker sets in this camp, with Herbig as the roaming wild card. So ...
β’ I'd be remiss if I didn't add that Golden's the goodest of good dudes. Truly valued his time with the team. Once marveled to me that he was wearing the uniform of the franchise. Like, really, really marveled.
β’ I'm not expecting a pure fullback to crack the final 53, but then, I just watched defensive linemen partake in kickoff coverage on this day, so I've no longer got any conclusive clue about anything related to roster makeup. My goodness.
β’ No one in this orbit receives more behind-the-scenes raves than Keeanu Benton. Which is kinda funny considering everyone can see his play and, thus, his potential. But the way it's discussed, it's as if it's some hot secret being shared. I asked Benton about that very thing, and he replied with a shake of his head: "I mean, I don't fold under pressure. Pressure makes diamonds. I'm just ready to go out there and work."
β’ Danny Smith's never appeared more amped, and that's saying something. The man's entire existence has been upended.
PIRATES
β’ Ben Cherington's seven trades in the week leading up to Major League Baseball's Tuesday deadline amounted to pretty much a break-even financially, even though he'd been authorized to make a significant add to payroll. I asked about this, and the response from within was first that, "This was Ben's deadline." followed by an explanation that the GM's aware that any money he doesn't spend now can be applied in the future. With the current payroll now at $86,538,839, per Ethan Hullihen, the obvious outlook should be getting back above $100 million, a plateau Bob Nutting hasn't touched since 2016. All seems to add up.
β’ The mood on the inside is very happy about the overall trade output, partly because the two main pieces, Bryan De La Cruz and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, are both here not for one year but two. Cherington didn't want the traditional two-month rentals. I don't know why, but I'd have to think it dovetails with my long-held view that he's taking the 2025 season far more seriously than he took the 2024 season before this week.
β’ It's not quite a circumvention of international-bonus caps, but the Pirates pulled off at least a pseudo variety in sending Martin PΓ©rez to the Padres for 18-year-old pitching prospect Ronaldys Jimenez, plus paying San Diego $1,311,828 to cover half of Perez's prorated salary. By doing so, they add a rare Latin American talent to the system -- that area's been bone dry under Cherington -- without being constricted by the cap. Hey, maybe it'll be a long-overdue start.
β’ PΓ©rez made as much of an off-the-mound impression on younger pitchers at the Pittsburgh level as I've seen from anyone since Francisco Liriano. That's not nothing. That's essential to team-building.
β’ Everyone talks about Bubba Chandler in the system, and not without cause. But I'm told everyone should be talking more about Braxton Ashcraft. Guess we'll see.
β’ Paul Skenes' next start will come Sunday at PNC Park against the Diamondbacks, which became public -- and prominently so, via mass email and social media -- maybe only about a millisecond after Derek Shelton had made up his mind about the rotation for the weekend. That's not an accident. The only home sellouts for Skenes' starts so far have happened when visiting fans have helped pack PNC Park. Otherwise, because of the team's terribly small season-ticket base -- I don't have a hard figure, but I'm told it's around where it's been for a few years now -- there are so many single-game tickets to sell, as many as 30,000, that a sellout would prove a challenge anywhere in such a circumstance.
β’ Never seen Shelton come across this confident. meaning just in how he goes about his daily business. It's almost surreal. Things are changing.
PENGUINS
β’ All I've got this week. Sorry. Absolute worst time of the calendar year for hockey anything, barring the occasional Anthony Beauvillier conference call. But hey, shame on us for six weeks if we can't stick it out for six more weeks, right?
β’ Thanks for reading our franchise feature.
β’ And for listening:
