Highlights from practice No. 12 of training camp:
It's beginning to look more recognizable in terms of the starting lineups.
"We got increased participation from some," head coach Mike Tomlin noted following today's practice. "That will continue.
"We look to play a lot of people this week."
The offense got OT Chukwuma Okorafor involved in 11-on-11 work for the first time in camp when Okorafor lined up at left tackle for the opening snap of "Seven Shots." Okorafor joined an offensive line that also included LG Rashaad Coward, C Kendrick Green, RG Trai Turner and RT Zach Banner.
Okorafor, Turner and Banner are included with the first-team offense on the depth chart.
Green is not, but he opened camp working with the first-team offense and has done so the majority of the time ever since.
TE Zach Gentry worked with the first group in "Seven Shots" instead of listed starter Eric Ebron, but Ebron subbed in during the drill in his return after missing some time due to an elbow injury.
The wide receivers at the outset were Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and JuJu-Smith Schuster.
First-round pick Najee Harris was at running back.
The quarterback was Ben Roethlisberger.
On defense, the starting secondary of CBs Joe Haden and Cam Sutton, SS Terrell Edmunds and FS Minkah Fitzpatrick was intact (Edmunds has had limited participation in 11-on-11 work coming off of shoulder surgery). The LBs were Devin Bush and Robert Spillane and the OLBs were Alex Highsmith and Melvin Ingram III (in T.J. Watt's spot).
The DTs were Cam Heyward and Carlos Davis (in Stephon Tuitt's spot in the five-defensive backs "nickel" alignment).
CB Arthur Maulet was the nickel (listed starter Antoine Brooks Jr. did not practice).
NOT THIS TIME: Roethlisberger's second opportunity to run the two-minute offense didn't last long. Tasked with driving 68 yards for a touchdown in 1:46, Roethlisberger hit Johnson for a gain of 13 but had the next pass intercepted by Fitzpatrick (TE Pat Freiermuth was the intended target).
QB Mason Rudolph got his group into the end zone. The big play was a 44-yard completion to WR Isaiah McKoy to the defense's 11-yard line. The drive culminated with a 5-yard touchdown pass to WR Mathew Sexton, who was able to get down and haul the ball in just above the grass.
SEVEN SHOTS: The offense rallied with conversions/scores on the last four reps of the two-point conversion/short-yardage drill and came out on top, 4-3.
Roethlisberger rolled right and found Claypool over Haden in the back of the end zone on the first rep, then failed to connect with Harris on the second (Bush may have been guilty of an infraction).
A shovel pass from Roethlisberger to RB Anthony McFarland was completed on the third rep but McFarland was touched down short of the goal line by Maulet (the shoulder pads weren't on so the Steelers didn't tackle).
Rudolph hit WR James Washington on a fade over CB Justin Layne and connected with Freiermuth on a conversion/scoring strike.
Ebron dropped a pass from QB Dwayne Haskins before Haskins completed a pass to RB Tony Brooks-James on the final rep.
TESTING DEVIN: Bush was noticeable in a 1-on-1 pass coverage/pass route drill. He successfully defended balls thrown to Freiermuth and McFarland and was beaten deep by Harris.
Freiermuth beat Ingram for a long gain.
Gentry and TE Kevin Rader got the best of ILB Ulysees Gilbert III.
Heyward also took an unsuccessful shot at covering Gentry.
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 Cody White (hamstring), RB Benny Snell, Brooks, RB Kalen Ballage (lower-body injury), OG Kevin Dotson, OLB T.J. Watt and DE Stephon Tuitt, who wasn't at practice.
X's & O's: Snell rode a stationary bicycle on the sideline prior to practice … RB Trey Edmunds fumbled (forced by S Lamont Wade) but recovered in 11-on-11 work … Washington caught a TD pass from Roethlisberger in a wide receiver/defensive back red zone drill … Wade intercepted Haskins on a slant intended for WR Tyler Simmons … McKoy committed a false start after his big reception in the two-minute drill.
