Steelers to Face Extreme Heat for Preseason Opener

TAMPA, Florida — When the Pittsburgh Steelers left St. Vincent College, the team’s training staff was already preparing the players for what was to come.

The staff posted memos to the players regarding the forecasted heat for Friday night’s preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

That forecast has come to pass, with temperatures in Tampa in the upper 90s on Friday, and the heat index exceeding 115. Those highs will have passed when the Steelers take to the grass playing surface just before kickoff at 7 p.m. But it will still be hot.

Weather.com forecasts the game-time temperature to be 93 degrees, with 58% humidity and a heat index of 105.

The Steelers didn’t have temps quite that high in Latrobe this summer, but a sweltering first week of training camp did get close. Either way, you won’t hear head coach Mike Tomlin complain about the heat.

“I love the heat and I mean it It’s uncomfortable, but it aids in development, individually and collectively,” Tomlin said early in camp. “Guys get an opportunity to develop and display conditioning. The atmosphere is challenging from an assignment standpoint in terms of staying wired in through fatigue and being able to execute. …

“The flip side of that, though, is that we really have to be professional, take care of our bodies, hydrates, and keep this group up, because availability is also a big component of improving.”

Several Steelers were unable to finish practice in those early sessions with heat-related issues. Friday night, the team’s starters are expected to have a short workload, meaning that third-team players could get an entire half in the heat to prove that they can stay available for the team.

The Steelers should get a reprieve from the heat after their trip to Tampa. The team’s next three road games are all in domed stadiums in Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Houston.