Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Troy Fautanu at training camp on July 30, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
UNITY TWP., Pa. — It’s been a while since Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Troy Fautanu strapped on his shoulder pads.
Fautanu suffered a season-ending knee injury last September, and while he’s been cleared for action for a while now, Wednesday was the first day back in pads since the injury that wrecked his rookie season.
As a nice, easy transition back into padded football, head coach Mike Tomlin had a nice welcome back gift for the second-year Washington product: solo reps against T.J. Watt.
On the first day of pads, the Steelers did most of their familiar padded-practice drills, including team run periods and sprinted one-on-sessions of backs on backers and offensive lineman vs. defensive linemen.
In the latter drill, Fautanu led things off, taking the first two reps against Watt.
“You really don’t know what to expect,” he said. “For me, I’ve just got to make sure that I’m taking the correct set and not beating myself because he’s going to take anything you give him.I’m going to continue to get better. Obviously, going against a guy like him is going to help me out. I’m looking for reps like that.Good on good. So, shout out to him. I’m super excited to continue to get better.”
Fautanu may have deflected the credit, but he got solid wins in each of those reps.
“I thought he represented himself well today,” head coach Mike Tomlin said. “He really gets an opportunity to improve and improve fast because of who he gets to work against every day.”
Fautanu said the knee injury is physically behind him — he wore just a small protective sleeve over it on Wednesday — but he needs to get back to mentally trusting that leg to anchor his movements after being so careful with it over the last year.
“Just trusting my anchor, I guess,” he said. “Knowing that I have the anchor to sit on bull (rushes). Not just lunging and doing stuff like that.”
If that’s all Fautanu has to nit-pick about, after stonewalling the most dangerous pass rusher in the league, he’s going to do just fine this season.
WELCOME TO THE NFL
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Malik Harrison and running back Kaleb Johnson collide in a drill at training camp on July 30, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The day was not as kind to Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson, whose first day in pads were largely forgetful. Johnson was stopped short at the goal line in seven shots, had a tough go of things in backs on backers and even had a rare fumble during a team run period.
In backs on backers, Johnson drew Malik Harrison as a very tough assignment, and the big No. 50 bowled him over for two of the three reps. The second one, Johnson was able to stand his ground somewhat, but could have been flagged for holding. Later, he got a shot at redemption against fellow rookie Carson Bruener, and lost that rep, too.
The drill is not supposed to be fair, with the situation heavily tilted to the defense. But the standard set by Jaylen Warren in that area has been impressive, and if Johnson wants to ever unseat him and Kenneth Gainwell in passing-down situations, he’s going to have to learn how to add better techniques and approach to the size and physicality he already possesses.
FITTING RIGHT IN
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Malik Harrison at training camp on July 30, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Of course, while it was a tough day for Johnson, Harrison looks like he’ll fit right in with the Steelers. The powerful linebacker hasn’t really been able to show off his game much without the pads coming on, but he and fellow hard-hitting linebacker Mark Robinson were the stars of the show on Wednesday.
Harrison defeated Johnson, while Mark Robinson walloped Evan Hull in his two reps against the newcomer. The Steelers’ linebacker room has no shortage of physicality.
“That’s a competitive drill, so you I just go out there and do what I do,” Harrison said. “There shouldn’t be a back that can block me, especially with my size and how physical I am. … That’s what football is all about, coming out here with the pads. The first day, I think it was pretty good.”
WELCOME TO THE NFL, PART II
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Jack Sawyer in a backs on backers drill at training camp on July 30, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
On the other side of the ball, two rookie Steelers pass-rushers had a tough go of things on the first day with pads. Rookie outside linebacker Jack Sawyer and defensive tackle Yahya Black are big, strong players for their positions. They also don’t necessarily have the most advanced sets of pass-rush moves. It showed on Wednesday.
Sawyer traded reps with rookie tight end JJ Galbreath in backs-on-backers in a matchup that he should probably have been expected to win. Along the line, Black battled Doug Nester in a three-rep series that the West Virginia product soundly won.
Even among undrafted blockers, a strong player without an elite rush plan isn’t going to get very far. We’ll see how Black and Sawyer progress as training camp and the preseason go on.
CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. at training camp on July 26, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Two years ago, then-rookie Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. came to training camp and struggled mightily with his tackling. Considering his father, Steelers Hall of Honor inductee, outside linebacker Joey Porter Sr., and the fact that the younger Porter is a stout 6-foot-2, 195 pounds for a cornerback, that might have come as a surprise. But tackling was one of the few areas that Porter had a lot to work on when he came out of Penn State.
Fast forward to 2025, and Porter absolutely lit up Johnson on more than one running play, looking much more like his old man than the player we saw here two years ago.
“It’s good to see,” Tomlin said. “You know, it’s just one day sample. For me, it’s about putting together good consecutive days and displaying consistency.”
SEVEN SHOTS
The offense won the drill, with it coming down to the final rep for the fourth straight practice.
🏈 Aaron Rodgers went under center, turned and handed off to Jaylen Warren, who ran straight up the middle, barreled into the pile and reached over the goal line into the end zone.
🏈 DeShon Elliott came unblocked on a safety blitz, leaped into the air and batted down a Rodgers pass intended for Ben Skowronek.
🏈 Jonnu Smith lined up in the slot to the right and ran a short slant. He was completely uncovered as the defense sent a jailbreak blitz, but the offensive line was able to keep Rodgers protected for an easy touchdown.
🏈 Mason Rudolph looked to his right and found Brandon Johnson on an in-breaking route in front of Joey Porter Jr.
🏈 Rudolph gave to Kaleb Johnson for a run around the right side. Esezi Otomewo and Joey Porter Jr. were there to greet him for a tackle for loss. Otomewo was injured on the play.
🏈 Will Howard handed off to Max Hurleman, who plowed straight up the middle, but Jack Sawyer swept around the edge and stopped him in his tracks for no gain.
🏈 The first teams came back out, and Rodgers made a play action fake before finding DK Metcalf on a corner route, with Darius Slay in tow. Slay had no chance. Beautiful touchdown.
The offense evened the score with the defense at 2-2 with the win.
INJURY UPDATES
🏈 DT Esezi Otomewo is being evaluated for a knee injury, Tomlin said.
🏈 LT Broderick Jones (groin) participated only in stretching and individual drills.
🏈 TE DJ Thomas-Jones was at practice walking around without any large braces or splints on his injured left calf/ankle, but did not participate.
🏈 LG Isaac Seumalo missed his fifth consecutive practice while on the non-football injury list with an undisclosed soft tissue injury. Spencer Anderson again moved up to the first team at left guard.
🏈 DT Cam Hayward was given the day off from team periods.
NOTES FROM TEAM PERIODS
By Brendan Howe
🏈 A pass appeared to slip from Aaron Rodgers’ grip and skipped in front of DeShon Elliott. The passer wiped his hands off after almost throwing a pick to the self-described “troll.”
🏈 Keeping with the theme from a few days ago, Roc Taylor found some space on a dig route and hauled in a pass from Skylar Thompson.
🏈 Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson both looked Ke’Shawn Williams’ way during the final team period. Rudolph found him on a right-to-left drag, then Williams bobbled and pinned Thompson’s pass to his hip to end the practice.
🏈 Newly-signed tight end Kevin Foelsch squeezed a Will Howard pass on an out route to the right sideline before being bumped to the ground by Chuck Clark.
Mentioned In This Article: Jack Sawyer Kaleb Johnson Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers Steelers Training Camp top Troy Fautanu