Practice Report: August 14

The defense went 2-for-2 in another round of two-minute drills. QB Ben Roethlisberger directed the first drive, which was tasked with moving 48 yards in 48 seconds, with one timeout with which to work. The possession lasted three snaps. Roethlisberger hit WR Diontae Johnson on a shallow cross for 4 yards on first down, then had a pass deflected at the line of scrimmage on second down. The incompletion set up a third-and-6 on which Roethlisberger flushed right and tried to hit WR JuJu Smith-Schuster but was instead intercepted by CB Arthur Maulet. The six-defensive backs “dime” defense included CBs Justin Layne and James Pierre, SS Terrell Edmunds, FS Minkah Fitzpatrick, Maulet as the “nickel,” Sutton as the “dime” and Devin Bush as the lone inside linebacker. QB Mason Rudolph’s challenge was to drive the offense 65 yards in 1:41 with one timeout. His possession also failed to record a first down. After an incompletion on first down, Rudolph found WR Anthony Johnson for 6 yards. But a third-down pass fell incomplete and the fourth-and-4 attempt to connect with Johnson was dropped.SEVEN SHOTS: The defense prevailed, 5-2, in the signature two-point conversion/short-yardage drill. Roethlisberger went 1-for-3, with the lone completion to Johnson in the end zone. Roethlisberger’s initial pass was dropped by RB Najee Harris and the third was a fade for Johnson that fell incomplete. All three of Roethlisberger’s passes were targeted for players being covered by Pierre. Roethlisberger’s first pass was thrown out of an empty set. Rudolph threw incomplete for TE Zach Gentry and WR Mathew Sexton. QB Dwayne Haskins hit WR Rico Bussey for a conversion/score on a back-shoulder fade and was unable to connect with TE Marcus Baugh.MEDICAL FILE: Among those who either didn’t participate or only took part in position drills or individual work due to a variety of reasons were WR James Washington, WR Ray-Ray McCloud, CB Joe Haden, RB Benny Snell, CB Antoine Brooks Jr., OG Trai Turner, C Kendrick Green, OT Chaz Green, OLB T.J. Watt and DE Stephon Tuitt.BACK IN BLACK: RB Kalen Ballage, OT Zach Banner and DE Cam Heyward returned to practice. All had missed Thursday night’s preseason victory in Philadelphia.X’s & O’s: The first-team offensive line at the outset of “Seven Shots” consisted of, from left to right, Chukwuma Okorafor, Kevin Dotson, J.C. Hassenauer, B.J. Finney and Banner …Fitzpatrick came up with a diving interception of Roethlisberger in 11-on-11 “Pass Under Pressure/Third Down.” Roethlisberger found TE Pat Freiermuth twice in the drill. Freiermuth also made an acrobatic catch in tight coverage on a fastball from Hawkins … OT Dan Moore Jr. played on the right side on a line that was also comprised by, from left to right, Joe Haeg, Rashaad Coward, John Leglue and Malcolm Pridgeon … WR Chase Claypool was wide open but dropped a deep ball from Roethlisberger in 11-on-11 … CB Justin Layne intercepted a high pass from Rudolph that deflected off Sexton’s hands in 11-on-11 … Pierre intercepted a Roethlisberger pass intended for TE Eric Ebron in “7-on-7.” Roethlisberger responded with a long TD pass to WR JuJu Smith-Schuster at Pierre’s expense two plays later.