The Pittsburgh Steelers have wrapped up their first week of training camp and there have been several great position battles. We thought we’d update you on four of the big ones to see who is winning just a week away from the team’s first preseason game.
Cam Sutton vs Artie Burns
The Steelers committed to Burns by paying him his roster bonus and so they are giving him a fair shot to be the main backup to starting cornerbacks Joe Haden and Steven Nelson. But through a week, it seems Sutton has a leg up with multiple big plays in practice. We didn’t include rookie Justin Layne who seems quite a bit behind at this point.
Leader: Sutton
James Washington vs Donte Moncrief vs Diontae Johnson
There is a three-man race for the starting spot opposite JuJu Smith-Schuster at wide receiver. The three players involved couldn’t be more different in style but all three have impressed at camp. The guy getting the most attention by the media has been Johnson but quietly Washington has come back for his second season much improved and Moncrief has that veteran presence a player like Ben Roethlisberger loves.
Leader: Johnson
Chuks Okorafor vs Matt Feiler
The battle for the starting right tackle spot has been pretty quiet so far. Both Okorafor and Feiler have had solid camps but this is Feiler’s job to lose and he’s done nothing yet to give it up. The one day Okorafor did step in right tackle was when Ramon Foster had a vet day off and Feiler actually moved to left tackle.
Leader: Feiler
Joshua Dobbs vs Mason Rudolph
Someone has to be the backup to Roethlisberger and after one week it sounds like Rudolph is taking the lead. Video from practice has shown Rudolph making several big throws. Dobbs served as the No. 2 last season but Rudolph is pushing hard to take that spot this season. With the window for Roethlisberger closing, this is a huge training camp for Dobbs and Rudolph.
