UNITY TWP., Pa. —The Pittsburgh Steelers had their first practice of training camp 2025 at St. Vincent College on Thursday, and head coach Mike Tomlin got what he was looking for.
While the Steelers can't practice in pads until the second week of camp, that doesn't mean that Tomlin can't make them uncomfortable. After changing the team's routine to include morning practices in 2024, Tomlin moved the team back to the afternoons for 2025.
He wants his players practicing in the heat of the day, and they did that on Thursday, with multiple players having to leave the field temporarily for heat-related issues.
"Love practice at 1:55 pm, man," Tomlin said. "The heat helped us. There's no question that heat helps physical development, individually and collectively. … I think everybody that's a real competitor appreciates it, because they realize you can't run from it. You got to run to it. When you have a good mindset, it's an asset to you when you get in hot environments."
For returning veterans that have experienced previous Tomlin camps, the change probably wasn't significant. But it was eye-opening for a newcomer like Aaron Rodgers .
"Mike wants to practice at the hottest time of the day, which is interesting, but I love it just because it's a stressor," Rodgers said. "We see how guys respond to adversity."
On Wednesday, both Mike Tomlin and Jalen Ramsey were asked what Ramsey's role will be with the team in 2025. Both played it coy, with Ramsey saying he's going to play football and Tomlin calling him and the rest of the team's defensive backs position-less "coverage people."
But one way or another, on Thursday's first practice of training camp, the game would be up and Ramsey's position would be revealed. But that didn't stop him from dragging it out as long as possible.
The Steelers defensive backs were working as one large group on the second field at the start of training camp on Thursday. Then coach Gerald Alexander split the group. Safeties were working with him, while cornerbacks and slots went with assistant Anthony Midget.
Ramsey watched one group go one way, the other the other way, and was left standing alone in the middle of the field, before finally committing to joining the safeties, where he practiced Cover 2 drops.
When the team periods started, the Steelers were in base defense and Ramsey played safety. When the Nickel package came in, he moved to the slot. In certain man-to-man looks, he also slid outside.
Tomlin said to expect him to line up all over.
"Get your cameras ready," he said. "You're going to see him in a lot of places."
We'll see which part of the field he picks on Friday.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at training camp on July 24, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Aaron Rodgers had an inauspicious start to his Steelers training camp, throwing an interception to Patrick Queen while targeting DK Metcalf .
Rodgers didn't have a great day overall, either, but he brushed off any concerns about his first-day performance.
"It's good to get that out the way," he said. "Anybody who's watched me practice over the years, you know, you like to try certain throws at certain times. Anybody that's watched me in the games knows I've been pretty stellar taking care of football over the years. So, there's going to be picks, for sure. I'm going to try to fit certain things in. You gotta deal with some some sweat on the ball from time to time. So, it's going to be a good challenge for me to throw in this heat every single day I look forward to. I'm going to throw some picks, but I'm going to throw some touchdowns too."
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf at training camp on July 24, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Rodgers and Metcalf connected just once on Thursday, in a 7-on-7 period, and part of that could certainly be the combination of both of them being new to one another and new to Arthur Smith's offense.
But Joey Porter Jr. might have had something to say about that, too. The one completion was underneath, against zone coverage. The rest, young Porter had on lockdown.
He's been looking forward to getting another shot at Metcalf for a while, ever since he abused Porter to the tune of five catches for 106 yards in Porter's rookie season in 2023.
Tomlin said Porter isn't the only one that wants a piece of Metcalf.
"I want to see all of those guys compete. You know, everybody is going to get their shot at a guy like that. I'm sure Jalen feels the same way. I'm sure Slay feels the same way. I'm sure DK feels the same way. That's what's great about a camp environment where we're practicing good on good, and we take the iron-on-iron principle to getting better."
Pittsburgh Steelers tight ends Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth talk at practice on July 25, 2025. — Alan Saunders / Steelers Now
🏈 LG Isaac Seumalo is on the non-football injury list with an undisclosed soft tissue injury. Spencer Anderson moved up to the first team at left guard.
🏈 TE Jonnu Smith took individual drills, but not team periods, with an undisclosed injury. Head coach Mike Tomlin said he's day to day. Darnell Washington started with the first-team offense.
🏈 RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson did not practice and is also day to day.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hands off to running back Kaleb Johnson at training camp on July 24, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The biggest cheer was unquestionably for Queen's interception of Rodgers, but Kaleb Johnson drew a lot of oohs and ahh for his running, including a burst up the right side for what could have been a long touchdown — it's always hard to tell in thud periods with no tackling.
Johnson had one of the best days of any Steelers offensive player with a couple of big runs, showing off his impressive burst in the running game. He got a rare singular shout out from Tomlin in his press conference, too.
🏈 No seven shots on the first day of camp for the second year in a row.
🏈 Derrick Harmon is already a monster. He started in the base defense, blew up a running play, batted down a pass, and he's still at the very early edge of his learning curve in terms of technique and learning the defense. He can still get a lot better, but I think he's in line for a special rookie season.
🏈 Will Howard was fourth in the quarterback pecking order, behind Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson , and got fairly limited reps. I did like that he used a hard count to draw the defense offsides once. I'm not sure many rookies would want to try that in their first practice.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard at training camp on July 24, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
🏈 When the Steelers started in 12 personnel, Calvin Austin III was alongside Metcalf at wide receiver. In 11 personnel, Austin slid inside and Roman Wilson played outside.
🏈 Washington had the biggest receiving gain on the day in a 7-on-7 corner route from Mason Rudolph, where he beat Cole Holcomb .
🏈 Third-team safety Quindell Johnson intercepted Skylar Thompson on a tipped ball that was intended for DJ Thomas-Jones .
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Camp Takeaways: Ramsey Plan Revealed, Rodgers Shakes Off Rust
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