Steelers ready to put on the pads, hit in front of fans for first time in nearly two years

In a nice piece of symmetry, the pads come out Wednesday for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and fans will be allowed inside Heinz Field to see the initial hitting of training camp take place.

The Steelers wrapped up their five days of heat acclimation Tuesday with their initial workout at their home stadium following four practices at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

And Steeler Nation will be permitted to attend a practice for the first time since the 2019 training camp was held at Saint Vincent. Practice begins at 1:30 p.m. and typically lasts two hours.

Tomlin said the Steelers will do their customary drills that take place in the first padded practice, such as the popular backs-on-backers session in which running backs try to stop blitzing linebackers from rushing the quarterback.

“We’re going to do what we do and get a chance to know them and sharpen the iron on the iron,” Tomlin said. “It’s elements of real football, you know. They really start to reveal themselves when we get in real football-like conditions, and that’s what it signifies for us.”

Tomlin believes his players are just as enthusiastic about beginning the next phase of training camp as is the coaching staff.

“They are competitors,” he said. “You feel the energy out here. These guys have been playing football all their lives. It’s a very normal thing for them. They have trained for a long time to put themselves in this position.

“It’s like the first day of school, so there is a level of excitement.”

Tomlin also welcomed the return to Heinz Field, the site of the team’s mandatory three-day minicamp in June and the venue where the Steelers spent the entire 2020 training camp because of the covid-19 pandemic.

“Guys were energized in this environment,” he said. “We have to get used to making plays in this environment. We’re excited to be here and looking forward to getting the fans out tomorrow and being able to work in front of those guys.

“We’re doing normal and usual things. We’ll continue to snap that ball, and it gives us an opportunity to grow and learn and teach and gain insight and football intellect in certain circumstances.”