First and 10: First Day of School

Alan Saunders |

Updated: May 25, 2022

Steelers QB Kenny Pickett, Mike Sullivan, Matt Canada

For the Pittsburgh Steelers young player, rookie minicamp two weeks ago was the start of the offseason process, as the rookies and tryouts gathered at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex to get their first taste of the NFL.

But that was just a taste. The playing field of all rookies doesn’t exactly measure up to the real thing, and even though there will not be hitting, when the full team gathers for OTAs on Tuesday, in many ways, it’s going to be the first day of school for the Steelers youngsters.

Instead of a practice field full of their peers, the Steelers rookies will now be directly compared to players that are some of the very best in the world at what they do. Those that aren’t ready or not up to the task will stand out in a bad way. It’s the first chance to prove their worth in any meaningful fashion, and while the real competition for jobs and roles won’t start until training camp in Latrobe, some will be ahead of the game when they get there and others will be behind, based on the experience they’re able to gain in these 10 practice sessions.

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Five Questions for OTAs that Don’t Include the Quarterbacks, Alan Saunders

Steelers OTAs Primer: What Will and Won’t Happen over 10 Practices, Saunders

ME Report: Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins Had Drugs, Alcohol in System When Killed, Saunders

Peter King Ranks Steelers 23rd in Latest Power Rankings, Cale Berger

Steelers Waiver Bryce Watts from IR with Injury Settlement, Saunders

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TODAY’S STEELERS SCHEDULE

The Steelers will start practice at 10 a.m. this morning on the South Side, with the session expected to last for two hours. The Steelers will then open their locker room to the media for the first time since before the pandemic. Saunders, Chris Carter, Ed Thompson

The Steelers are done with general manager interviews and we’re just waiting on an announcement from the club. Saunders

The team still has not signed two of its seven draft picks from the 2022 NFL Draft: QB Kenny Pickett and WR Calvin Austin III. Austin Bechtold