Pittsburgh Steelers players aren’t used to wearing pads when they take the practice field at 10:30 a.m. That usually is the time designated for the team’s daily walk-through at Saint Vincent.
The threat of inclement weather forced another change in plans Tuesday, something that has become a trend over the past week.
With rain scheduled for the afternoon, coach Mike Tomlin moved up practice by nearly three-and-a-half hours. So instead of conducting a morning walk-through on an empty campus, the Steelers conducted a two-hour workout with a smattering of fans in attendance.
“It is our preference to practice in the heat of the day,” Tomlin said. “We believe it aids in team development, particularly from a conditioning standpoint. But although we have a hardcore plan, we remain light on our feet and do what it is that we need to do in an effort to get the work done.”
And what about that walk-through, which is considered another vital part of team development in training camp? It was rescheduled for the afternoon.
“We’re going to get all of our work done today,” Tomlin said. “We just flipped it around a little bit.”
Two starters who were injured Monday in the workout at Latrobe Memorial Stadium were not on the field Tuesday. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith sat with a rib injury, and left guard Kevin Dotson was absent because of an ankle issue.
The only new injury Tomlin detailed was to nose tackle Montravius Adams, who left practice early with an injured ankle.
Among the players who didn’t participate in the team portions of practice were wide receiver Diontae Johnson (hip flexor), outside linebacker Genard Avery (groin), inside linebackers Ulysees Gilbert III (ankle) and Marcus Allen (hamstring) and fullback Derek Watt (shoulder). Tight end Zach Gentry and running back Mataeo Durant also did not practice.
Tight end Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) participated in some team activities.
