Steelers notes: Mike Tomlin unfazed about possibly counting on 5 rookies in season opener

As many as five members of the Pittsburgh Steelers draft class will start or be regular contributors Sunday when they open the season at the Buffalo Bills.

It’s an unusually high number of rookies to start for any team, let alone one coming off a division championship and 12-4 record.

“Those guys have earned their positioning through their play,” coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. “I’m excited about what they’re going to provide us this weekend, but at the same time I think it’s reasonable to expect those guys to find their footing and improve continually and rapidly over the course of this journey.”

Two of the rookie starters are on the offensive line: left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and center Kendrick Green. They will be tasked with blocking for first-round pick Najee Harris. Second-rounder Pat Freiermuth is listed as a co-starter at tight end. The fifth rookie is punter Pressley Harvin III.

The one rookie not expected to play immediately when training camp began was Moore, who will be protecting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s blind side. Moore spent training camp alternating between left and right tackle, but he was moved back to the left side when Zach Banner’s ACL injury kept him from practicing.

“He’s developed a lot, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that he probably came with more than we anticipated,” Tomlin said. “He’s gotten better through the course of this, but I think his floor was higher than anticipated, at least from my perspective.”

Playing coy

As was the case for the preseason finale, Tomlin didn’t list the slot cornerback position on his depth chart for the opener at Buffalo.

Cameron Sutton began working in the slot late in the preseason after spending the first few weeks lining up outside. The acquisition of Ahkello Witherspoon, a 6-foot-2 outside corner, could push Sutton inside. Second-year cornerback James Pierre is another option to start outside if the Steelers decide to use Sutton in the slot. Rookie seventh-rounder Tre Norwood also took snaps late in camp in the slot.

“We’ve got some options there, and I choose to hold those cards close to the vest,” Tomlin said. “Cam Sutton is a very capable guy who has done that inside, and it’s reasonable to anticipate that he’s going to do it in some form or fashion, but he’s also going to play outside as well.”

Tomlin said the Steelers would “spin the dial” in their search for the best cornerback rotation.

“I’m excited about being able to do so and some of the mystery associated with what we’re going to do in that area.”

Tomlin thinks Witherspoon, acquired in a trade with Seattle on Friday, is capable of grasping the Steelers system in time to play Sunday. He cited Ross Cockrell and Joe Haden as examples of cornerbacks who joined the Steelers late in the process and were immediately thrust into the mix.

“Particularly from a veteran standpoint, a guy that’s been in some systems and been around some NFL football, it’s not unreasonable to expect those guys to be ready from an assignment standpoint,” Tomlin said.

Injury report

Tomlin proclaimed everyone on the 53-man roster healthy heading into practice Wednesday. As for the three players who were placed on injured reserve last week, Tomlin provided little information.

He wouldn’t say whether Banner, who hasn’t practiced since playing 12 snaps in the third preseason game, had a setback in his return from ACL surgery last September. He also didn’t detail when defensive end Stephon Tuitt injured his knee or how running back Anthony McFarland was injured.

All three must miss at least three games before they can return to practice.

“I focus my energy on guys that are going to be in a helmet in the stadium this weekend,” he said. “I’ll provide more information about those guys at a later date or as they get closer to participation.”

New, old faces

The Steelers rounded out their practice squad by adding three players and placing wide receiver Rico Bussey on the practice squad injured list.

Defensive end Henry Mondeaux, who was released after the initial 53-man roster was set, returned to the practice squad. He was joined by linebacker Delontae Scott and wide receiver Tyler Vaughns.

Scott played at SMU and signed with the Green Bay Packers in 2020 as an undrafted free agent. He has no NFL experience. Vaughns played at Southern Cal and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts this spring. He was waived from the practice squad Friday.