The first regular season game against the New York Jets is still more than a week away, but the work hasn't stopped for the Steelers at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
While they aren't at the game-planning phase yet, they are getting in work in a variety of areas, something Coach Mike Tomlin welcomes.
"Another good day's work, really the same agenda that we've had the last several days," said Tomlin. "Just working on our football conditioning, communication, both verbal and non-verbal, skills relative to our positions and just trying to become more situationally aware.
"In certain circumstances, the rules of the game change, how you play, lines to gain and so forth. And so, we'll always be chasing that in terms of working to capitalize on those moments and capitalizing on those moments is first understanding them and your roles in them. And so just from that perspective, I thought it was another good day.
"We've got guys continuing to work back to us that have been on some of those day-to-day lists and that's a positive thing because the sand is running through the hourglass."
A few of those players are linebackers Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, who have both missed time with injuries during the preseason. Highsmith was on the field on Monday and said after practice he will be ready for Week 1 against the Jets.
"I like his level of competition and participation," said Tomlin of Highsmith. "I think he was almost a full participant today, and so it's moving n the right direction."
As far as Herbig's status for Week 1, that is yet to be determined.
"I don't know yet," said Tomlin. "We'll know as we get closer to it."
Rookie quarterback Will Howard didn't see any action in the preseason after suffering a hand injury during training camp, but Tomlin did provide an update on him.
"He's had some positive reviews, meeting with the hand specialist," said Tomlin. "We've increased his level of activity. We've altered the brace that you mentioned. And so, he's moving in the right direction in terms of full participation very soon."
The Steelers are at a point where they have to reduce the roster to the mandatory 53-man roster at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, and the decisions are never easy. Tomlin said at the start of camp he liked the makeup of the team and that hasn't changed.
"As I mentioned when we checked into Latrobe, I thought we had a really good 90," said Tomlin. "And I think that's the key component of having tough decisions. We felt really good about the 90. The 90 confirmed that with the quality of their play and competition day in and day out. So certainly, we've got some challenging decisions to make."
