Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at training camp on Aug. 7, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
UNITY TWP, Pa. — Brandin Echols played against Aaron Rodgers in practice all of last season. As part of the team’s influx of talent, the cornerback joined the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason alongside the future Pro Football Hall of Fame signal-caller.
Echols was asked after Monday’s training camp practice at St. Vincent College if this offense suits Rodgers better than the New York Jets’ a year ago.
“No comment,” Echols said with a laugh. “No comment.”
Sometimes say nothing’s saying something.
Rodgers and Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith are working hand-in-hand. The 21st-year passer has made sure to praise the coach, who’s crafting an attack that should go a long way in ensuring Rodgers stays upright and, if Monday’s practice was any indication, the unit produces.
Of course, general manager Omar Khan had laid the groundwork for that using two of his past three first-round draft picks — and another second-rounder — on offensive linemen. Right tackle Troy Fautanu, the Steelers’ 2024 No. 1 pick, spoke on Monday afternoon, and, to Rodgers, the young blocker’s comments should sound like the music piping through his wired earbuds.
“Obviously, there’s a little bit of nerves, but once I got out there, I started to get a lot more comfortable and got confident,” Fautanu said. “I wish we were able to get a couple more drives, because it felt like I was getting into a rhythm.”
The Steelers’ recipe will be to keep Rodgers’ uniform clean and for him to get the ball to his playmakers quickly. He used outs, slants and screens to his advantage during a combo route drill, 7-on-7 and team portions. While the profits from the dinks and dunks will keep the offense in business, there’s another huge factor to the equation.
Wasting Rodgers’ deep ball ability would be akin to skipping a slice of triple chocolate cake after a plate of vegetables. He sprinkled in a handful of spiraling rainbows, including an unguardable one to DK Metcalf that dropped in expertly between James Pierre and Juan Thornhill.
Be prepared to see a good chunk of the short, quick stuff, but Khan didn’t trade for Metcalf and pair him with Rodgers not to see the most exciting play in football. The former is necessary to provide the latter.
Rodgers/Roman Connection Blossoming
During the Steelers’ combo route drill, second-year receiver Roman Wilson lined up in the slot with Scotty Miller to his left. James Pierre played press on Miller, who slanted in under Wilson. Brandin Echols kept near Wilson as he traced a wheel route, but couldn’t get his head around quickly enough to get a full hand on Rodgers’ pass, which Wilson hauled in 25 yards from the line of scrimmage.
Rodgers also went Wilson’s way on a corner during a team session, but Pierre got handsy and never found the ball on what would’ve been flagged as a defensive pass interference.
Seven Shots
The Steelers’ defense got its hands up and in for a 4-3 win over the offense.
🏈 Rodgers whizzed a pass by cornerback Darius Slay’s ear and into DK Metcalf’s hands in the right back corner of the end zone. Slay rolled his ankle on the play and sat the rest of practice.
🏈 Rodgers tried to place a ball into the middle, but T.J. Watt sniffed it out and swatted it down.
🏈 Rodgers attempted the same thing as the previous play. This time it was tipped by Isaiahh Loudermilk and picked off by Daniel Ekuale.
🏈 Mason Rudolph connected with Miller on a crosser with Pierre in coverage.
🏈 Rudolph dialed another one up to Miller, who leaped and gracefully tapped both feet in the back of the end zone.
🏈 Skylar Thompson looked to fit one into Lew Nichols’ hands on an angle route, but Cole Holcomb got in the way.
🏈 Jack Sawyer blitzed in, forcing Thompson to throw it away.
Injury Updates
🏈 CB Cory Trice (groin) sat after missing out on the team’s preseason opener on Saturday.
🏈 CB Jalen Ramsey (undisclosed) worked off to the side with what Tomlin dubbed a “day-to-day” ailment.
🏈 CB Donte Kent (ankle/foot) didn’t practice. The seventh-round draft pick faces a steep hill to make the team.
🏈 TE Jonnu Smith (knee soreness) didn’t participate.
🏈 OLB Alex Highsmith (groin) jogged and rehabbed apart from the team.
🏈 CB Darius Slay (ankle) described as “day-to-day” by Tomlin.
Hurleman Can’t Replicate Theatrics
Pittsburgh Steelers undrafted rookie Max Hurleman celebrates his touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 9, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Buried down the receiver depth chart, undrafted rookie Max Hurleman slid to catch a touchdown in the flat on Saturday night, then wowed fans with a backflip to celebrate.
On Monday against a few defensive starters, Hurleman had a tall task in even squeezing a reception. DeShon Elliott jarred one loose during 7-on-7s, and Joey Porter Jr. broke another up on a fade as the two got tangled up.
Hurleman leaped by the sideline for another target on a Skylar Thompson scramble drill during a team proceeding, but the offering was too tall.
Still, Brandin Echols has taken notice of the unheralded pass-catcher.
“I love his work ethic,” Echols said. “He comes out every day ready to work. He accepts criticism. He doesn’t look at it like you’re trying to get on him. He looks at it like a ‘get better’ moment.”
Mustachioed Mason Continues to Hit Mark
Rudolph went an unofficial 10 for 12 during team portions, including a three-pass stretch that began with hitting Connor Heyward on a dig — reminiscent of the one that began the Steelers’ first series on Saturday night. Rudolph then laid one in Pat Freiermuth’s hands 30 yards downfield on a post, behind Cole Holcomb and Miles Killebrew. He went back to the well with another dig to Lance McCutcheon to cap the promising moment off.
After practice, Rudolph gave some answers as to why he returned to the Steelers with a mustache.
“I had a goatee going for a minute, but I thought that was a bit aggressive,” Rudolph said. “Mom didn’t like it, so I had to change it up. … It was just the next progression of facial hair.
Mentioned In This Article: Aaron Rodgers Arthur Smith DK Metcalf Omar Khan Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers top