PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers started up their third and final week of OTAs at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side on Tuesday, and Alan Saunders and Nick Farabaugh of Steelers Now were there to break it down.
The big news on Tuesday was the presence of defensive captain Cam Heyward, who reported to practice for the first time this spring. Heyward said he was going to stay away from OTAs while he and the team were negotiating on a contract extension, but with the two sides still far apart, he decided to report anyway.
Heyward talked for the first time this offseason, speaking to Nick about a number of topics, including his offseason surgery, what he’s looking for in a new contract, and how long he wants to keep playing.
Calvin Austin III continues to impress, with Alan catching up to the third-year receiver about his usage in the red zone, and how he’s worked on the development of that part of his game.
Austin also talked about how the receivers in the room have heard the chatter about the Steelers looking at trading for a wide receiver, and said it’s motivating those on the inside to keep working harder.
Additionally, Van Jefferson talked for the first time since joining the Steelers, about fitting in on a new team, his relationship with Arthur Smith, and being a mentor to the team’s younger receivers.
All that and more in today’s Pittsburgh Steelers Practice Report.
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