We are now officially one week into Pittsburgh Steelers training camp and in just over one week, the team will play its first preseason game. Training camp has been eventful for Pittsburgh and the team as a whole seems to be much more focused and working as a unit. Here are our early winners and losers from the first week of camp.
Winners
WR Diontae Johnson
LB Devin Bush Jr.
G/C B.J. Finney
CB Cam Sutton
LB Ola Adeniyi
So far it has been all about the rookies. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson and linebacker Devin Bush Jr. have been as advertised and more as they are already working their way into starter reps. But the star of training camp so far has been edge rusher Ola Adeniyi, who has been all but unblockable as he works in a rotation absent of T.J. Watt.
Veteran cornerback Cam Sutton doesn’t seem at all intimidated by the presence of Artie Burns or the rookie Justin Layne. He could end up the primary backup on the outside. As for guard B.J. Finney, he continues to play starter-quality football and really solidifies an elite offensive line.
Losers
TE Zach Gentry
LB Vince Williams
CB Justin Layne
WR Donte Moncrief
Not everything has been great this week. The problems that showed up on film for rookie tight end Zach Gentry are still evident. He struggles as a blocker and has limited tools as a receiver. As for fellow rookie Justin Layne, he has tons of athleticism but is still learning the position and with Burns staying on the roster has a climb to get reps as a rookie.
Wide receiver Donte Moncrief makes the list because he’s dealing with a finger injury, which has kept him out of practice. With guys like James Washington and Johnson playing so well, every practice he misses puts him behind. As for linebacker Vince Williams, his stock takes a hit because of how well Bush and Mark Barron have played.
