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3 days ago
- Sport
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Biggest Steelers takeaways from Day 4 of training camp
Day 4 of Steelers training camp has come on and gone — and there was much to digest after practices on Sunday. From health concerns to new faces proving themselves in Latrobe, here are the biggest takeaways from Day 4 in camp. Injuries are beginning to pile up Both OT Broderick Jones and WR Montana Lemonious-Craig suffered soft-tissue injuries on Sunday and are considered day-to-day — while FB DJ Thomas-Jones suffered a "more significant" leg injury and was carted off the field. RB Cordarrelle Patterson also missed his fourth straight practice at camp. Yahya Black has arrived Drafted with the 164th pick in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Black made his presence felt on Sunday — swatting down two passes during team drills and turning in an overall impressive Day 4 performance. Brandin Echols stands tall CB Brandin Echols hasn't taken the offseason disrespect lying down — making a strong case that he belongs in this stacked Steelers secondary. From his interception on Mason Rudolph to Mike Tomlin's comments on his fiery personality, Echols was the talk of camp on Sunday. Will Howard continues to outperform Mason Rudolph The Steelers' sixth-round rookie QB continued to impress on Sunday — even outperforming Mason Rudolph, who overthrew RB Kaleb Johnson on a screen and was intercepted by Echols during seven shots. While the narrative could change next week when pads come on, Howard deserves all the attention he's gotten thus far in Latrobe. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers training camp Day 4 takeaways and standout moments
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin gives injury update on TE Jonnu Smith at training camp
The first practice of 2025 Steelers training camp is officially in the books — and while many new and familiar faces stole the show, Pro Bowl TE Jonnu Smith was notably absent from team drills, sparking buzz about any lingering health concerns. At Thursday's press conference, Steelers HC Mike Tomlin was asked about the status of Pittsburgh's newest tight end — and he downplayed the undisclosed injury as a short-term setback. "[Jonnu Smith] can just be described as day-to-day," Tomlin told reporters. "We'll get him out here, sooner rather than later, I'm sure." It remains to be seen what sort of injury Smith is dealing with, but more details surrounding the situation will likely come out as training camp continues to roll on in Latrobe. The Steelers recently acquired Smith and All-Pro CB Jalen Ramey from the Dolphins in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a late-round pick swap. Smith factors to play a major role on offense this upcoming season, potentially creating a three-headed TE monster with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington — one that fans would love to see soon at camp. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' Mike Tomlin shares injury update on Jonnu Smith


Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sunday World
Nurburgring and Masoun leading the charge for Joseph O'Brien
DOUBLE TARGET | Galway and Goodwood are on the agenda this week And now seven years after he won the Irish Derby with Latrobe, Joseph has charge of the likely favourite for next Wednesday's Tote Galway Plate in Nurburgring, who skipped home seven lengths clear in the Guinness Galway Hurdle last year. Back in the heady days when Dermot Weld was the undoubted King of Ballybrit, Ansar completed that great double in 2001 and 2004, and that great crowd favourite came back to win the Plate again in 2005. Yet whatever happens in that great carnival on the Western seaboard this week, Joseph's mind won't stray too far from the day job, as he also has serious business to attend to at Glorious Goodwood. Indeed hat-trick seeking Masoun catches the eye among the entries for the first race of the week at the famed West Sussex venue, the Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap on Tuesday. He was being teed up for a handicap at Royal Ascot but didn't make the cut, instead he won the Ladies Derby at The Curragh under Elizabeth Gale. But Joseph's best chance at Goodwood comes much later in the week, with Goodie Two Shoes in the Lillie Langtry on Saturday. Perhaps his background in the jumping game taught Joseph the benefit of patience, but there is little doubt that this JP McManus owned six-year-old is really in full flower now, her Stanerra Stakes win at Fairyhouse being a career best. She'll need to progress again but there's every chance she will, and the faster the ground the better. Joseph and J P also have a leading fancy for the opening day big feature at Galway tomorrow evening, the Connacht Hotel Qualified Riders, in Comfort Zone, where a real threat is Toll Stone who represents the lethal Galway combination of Emmet Mullins and owner Annette Mee. He won at the festival last year in his first flat handicap. That was on the Friday night and he was hammered in from 3/1 to 11/10 jolly when trying to defy a 7 lbs penalty for a quick follow-up the following day but he never landed a blow. Horses often win twice during the week at Ballybrit but very rarely on successive days. Toll Stone finished a close second to Comfort Zone in a hot handicap at Naas last November and he won't be too far away tomorrow either, particularly with John Gleeson doing the steering. But there is one entry in tomorrow's big race that really stands out. For so many of us backing Dermot Weld bankers on the flat with the late Pat Smullen on board, it used to comfortably cover the week's expenses back in the day. And should young 7 lbs claimer and son of the great man Paddy Smullen bring Falcon Eight home in front for Weld tomorrow, the cheers will lift the roof off the Killanin Stand. Trainer Joseph O'Brien at Ballybrit Racecourse in Galway. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile Any value in Nurburgring's price for the Plate is well gone at this stage, and Thecompanysergeant, Jesse Evans and two Gordon Elliott runners, Zanahiyr and Down Memory Lane, have also attracted plenty of ante-post interest. A local winner of the Plate would be a bit special and the Paul Gilligan trained Buddy One has serious prospects. A winner on the flat at nearby Ballinrobe last Monday, the eight-year-old has a serious CV, including a win at a Cheltenham November meeting and a fourth to Teahupoo in last year's Stayers Hurdle. He was second to Strong Leader in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree and was third to Croke Park and Better Days Ahead in the Racing Post Long Distance Chase at Leopardstown last Christmas. The Athenry runner is also well proven at Ballybrit, having won over hurdles, and he made a winning start over fences over this course and distance last October. He is generally 25/1 at present but strong local support on the day could see him start a lot shorter on Wednesday but, whatever the odds, only his best will do. Another interesting 25/1 shot is the Willie Mullins-trained Arctic Fly, who has blown hot and cold, both at this track and elsewhere. She has won two of her last four races, including Tipp last time out, but was pulled up in the other two. She is good enough to win if in the mood and things go her way. Whether the contours of Galway suit stablemate Spanish Harlem is open to question. He could be more interesting in the Kerry or Munster Nationals later in the year if getting decent ground. Previous Galway Festival form is a good guide, and a few quid on Gordon Elliott's Royal Eagle in the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase on Tuesday might pay for a few pints in Quay Street afterwards, though stablemate King Of Kingsfield would bring a touch of class if lining up also. Betting is a serious business this week, and, for all the closing time yards of plots and schemes hatched and horses being 'teed up' to win at Galway for exiles returning on holidays, I have found down the years that at Ballybrit – just like everywhere else – eye-catching recent form is the best short cut to the winners' enclosure. Here is a list of horses worth serious consideration – Blues Emperor (J Murtagh); Tribal Nation (J O'Brien); Davy Crockett, La Note Verte and Vicar Street (W Mullins); Slieve Binnian (D Marnane); Sign From Above (P Fahey); Facethepuckout (M O'Callaghan); Highbury See See, Faoladh (A Slattery); Sounds Like A Plan (A Oliver); Heiselectric (N Meade); Bal Kauto (D Queally); Cornmarket (J Cullen); Moonovercloon (M Smith); Kenisa Sport (G Elliott); Spanish Temptress (R O'Brien); Sunny South West (E Power); Chally Chute (Ross O'Sullivan; Mo Ghille Mar (J Harrington); Dunkerque (G Cromwell); Drumgill (J Ryan); Roderick (P Sweeney) and Far From Dandy (S Thorne).
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Biggest Steelers takeaways from Day 3 of training camp
Day 3 of Steelers training camp is officially in the books and was characterized by several big moments in Latrobe. From Aaron Rodgers continuing to build chemistry with the Steelers' pass catchers to new acquisitions making a name for themselves during team drills, here are the biggest takeaways from the third day of practices. Rodgers–Washington connection heats up Darnell Washington, the unsung hero in a stacked tight end room, is steadily becoming one of Aaron Rodgers' favorite targets at training camp. If the third-year Steeler can ride the momentum, expect Washington to see a big workload in the red zone in 2025. Jalen Ramsey brings the splash plays In the second set of team drills, Ramsey pulled off an incredibly acrobatic interception — leaping several feet off the ground to high-point Rodgers' pass attempt. His ability to create turnovers from anywhere in the secondary is a welcome addition to this overhauled Steelers defense — clearly preparing for a deep postseason run this season. Will Howard continues to impress The Steelers' sixth-round rookie QB was a fan favorite heading into training camp — and Howard's gaining even more support after his strong performances in Latrobe. With a strong showing in seven shots and throughout team drills, he's beginning to look more and more like Pittsburgh's future starting QB with every rep. Juan Thornhill stole the show One of the Steelers' newest safeties turned a lot of heads on Day 3 of training camp practices — as Juan Thornhill made some highlight-reel pass breakups in coverage against Calvin Austin III and Jonnu Smith. If he can continue these strong outings throughout training camp and into preseason, expect the Steelers to have an easy decision as to who starts at free safety in 2025. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers training camp Day 3 takeaways and standout moments
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
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Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson eager to prove he can do it all, blocking included
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — Kaleb Johnson isn't worried about what happens when the football is in his hands. That's always been the easy part. The Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back has been doing this long enough to trust his talent and the instincts that made him an All-American at Iowa last fall. Yet the third-round pick understands that if he wants to get on the field regularly, he'll have to show coach Mike Tomlin and everyone else what he can do when the ball is elsewhere. Namely, standing in the backfield and doing what he can to use his sturdy 6-foot-1, 224-pound frame to create a little extra time for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Pass protection wasn't a priority at Iowa, where passing is seemingly never a priority. Johnson piled up 1,537 yards rushing and 23 total touchdowns anyway as a junior in 2024, even though opponents almost always knew what was coming. Yet when Johnson met with Tomlin during Iowa's 'Pro Day,' Johnson didn't waste time trying to describe his method or his running style. Instead, he told the league's longest-tenured coach that if the Steelers drafted him, he was looking forward to the singularly violent 'backs on backers' drill that is the annual highlight of the first day in pads during training camp at Saint Vincent College. Why? Johnson had done his homework. He scanned social media and found a video of Steelers third-year back Jaylen Warren — all of 5-foot-8 — lighting up a blitzing defender. '(The video) was hype,' Johnson said. Johnson's message to Tomlin that day: draft me and I'll prove to you I can do the same thing. 'I really want to show people what I can do,' he said. The Steelers were convinced — both by Johnson's passion and the healthy amount of what Tomlin called 'Sunday runs" (a Tomlin-ism for NFL-caliber) Johnson made against Big Ten defenses stacked to stop him — to take him with the 83rd overall pick in the draft. And while Johnson has broken off a handful of long runs during the opening days of camp this week, they've all come during what Tomlin not-so-lovingly describes as 'football in shorts.' The first real test of how ready Johnson is to compete for a starting job right away will come on Tuesday when Johnson has pads under his No. 20 jersey for the first time. That's when Tomlin will line one of Pittsburgh's star linebackers, maybe even T.J. Watt, currently the NFL's highest-paid defender, across from Johnson. On the whistle, the linebacker will attempt to go over, around, or through Johnson in an attempt to get to the quarterback. The one-on-one matchups give rookies on both sides of the ball a chance to make a memorable first impression. Asked if he expects Tomlin to send one of his 'hitmen' at him to gauge his readiness, Johnson replied simply, 'I know he is, and I'm ready for it.' Hardly surprising, considering Johnson looked ready for pretty much anything during his three years at Iowa, where he displayed the kind of big-play ability — Johnson had more than 30 runs of 20 yards or more with the Hawkeyes — that Pittsburgh's rushing attack largely lacked during Najee Harris' steady (four straight 1,000-yard seasons) but rarely spectacular tenure. Johnson will be given every opportunity to play right away, as Harris was four years ago. Yet there is no rivalry building between Johnson and Warren, a former undrafted rookie free agent who has become an unlikely success story. Warren said Johnson's skill set 'has got it all.' Johnson, meanwhile, has praised Warren for showing him the 'ins and outs' of picking up the blitz, something Warren has become so adept at that center Zach Frazier likened it to having another lineman on the field. While Tomlin frequently called Harris a 'bell cow," the reality is that the Steelers split playing time pretty evenly between Harris and Warren a year ago. Harris was on the field for 50% of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps. Warren was out there 40% of the time. Expect something similar in 2025, with veteran Kenneth Gainwell in the mix too after coming over from Philadelphia. Johnson is happy to simply be part of the group for now, though he wants to make it a point to prove to Tomlin that he's capable in any situation. 'I feel like I'm an all-around back,' he said. Starting Tuesday — with one of Tomlin's 'hitmen' standing across from him — Johnson will get a chance to prove it. NOTES: Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, center Maurkice Pouncey, and linebacker Joey Porter Jr. were selected to the club's Hall of Honor on Saturday by team president Art Rooney II. The trio will be officially inducted at Acrisure Stadium on Dec. 15 when the Steelers host Miami. ___ AP NFL: