Presented by

Preseason Blog: Working together

Aug 14, 2025 at 07:00 AM

Teresa Varley

Steelers.com

August 14

Working together: The Steelers will host a closed joint practice today with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium ahead of the preseason game between the two teams on Saturday night.

Joint practices have become more common as of late, especially when it's two teams that don't face each other in the regular season.

It's the second consecutive year the team will practice against a preseason opponent, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers said it can be valuable.

"Most of the joint practices, I would say you're not going to play that team in the regular season, so, they're less worried about showing things that they want to work on," said Rodgers. "Even though there usually are cameras there and it's filmed, they're less skittish about running the stuff they've been running all camp that they're going to try and do in the regular season against another team they're not going to play in the regular season.

"I found those beneficial. I think they're a good workday for the first team."

This isn't the first time Rodgers has participated in a joint practice, even having done so against Tampa Bay in the past.

"I think the thing you're always hopeful for is there's not a lot of fights," said Rodgers. "(The Jets) went against Tampa a couple years ago, and they had some veteran guys, and it was pretty clean practice. Hoping for another clean practice with them.

"It's good to go against a different team. You get a chance to go against non-vanilla defenses. So hopefully (Tampa Bay head coach) Todd (Bowles), he probably won't show everything, but will do some stuff that stresses our protection and gives us a chance to get some film to work on."

Coach Mike Tomlin enjoys the atmosphere of practicing against another team, but doesn't like to weigh the value of a game versus the value of a practice.

"I don't necessarily compare it in terms of what has more value than the other," said Tomlin. "They are all valuable. So, we participate in joint practices, because it's a different environment. It's different schematics.

"We're working against Tampa Bay and they're four-down defense, and we're a three-four defense. There are some good things for all parties involved there. I don't waste time wondering what's more valuable, both are valuable. We're participants in both."

A different look: Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. enjoyed the opportunity to practice against the Buffalo Bills last year at Acrisure Stadium prior to their preseason meeting, and he is equally excited about today's practice against the Buccaneers.

"This is going to be my second one," said Porter of the joint practice. "I enjoyed the one last year with the Bills. I learned a lot from it, so hopefully I can learn a lot from this one with the Bucs."

One thing Porter pinpointed was the opportunity to go against Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans, who is entering his 12th NFL season, and is one of the NFL's steadiest receivers. He is a two-time AP All-Pro second-team selection, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and everything you want in a receiver.

And Porter is excited for the opportunity.

"Going against Mike Evans. I'm excited for that," said Porter. "I've been watching him for a long time, so now I get to go against him in practice. I'm excited for that."

There is also the added benefit of practicing against a different team that has Porter ready for action.

"Just going against new players," said Porter. "I feel like everybody, we kind of get tired of going against each other, beating up on each other.

"So, it's a different team with a different jersey. We get to beat up on them for a little bit. So, I feel like everybody is excited for that."

The secondary as a unit aren't just getting a new look with their opponent in the joint practice, but they have also given new looks, with guys moving around in the secondary, playing different spots, and being interchangeable.

"I give it to our coaches because they're teaching us to be more expandable and play all different types of roles and they give us the capabilities of doing that," said Porter. "So, it's just them trusting us being able to switch up roles and the guys execute.

"Those are my guys, everybody in there. Dealing with Jalen (Ramsey) and Darius (Slay) coming in, the OGs. We always crack jokes. They're good teammates to have."

Porter said the ability to have the secondary be interchangeable is one of the big things that have come out of training camp, but not the only thing for them.

"Other than being able to play different parts of the defense and everybody being exchangeable, I feel like our communication has been top notch for us," said Porter. "That's really the main thing we've been pushing. Just communication to be able to make plays out there and not play so textbook."

1 / 173

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Trey Sermon (27) trains at Saint Vincent College during the 2025 Steelers Training Camp on Saturday July 26, 2025 in Latrobe, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)