LATROBE- After a laid-back and padless Saturday practice that lasted just about 55 minutes in total, Sunday’s session was as physical and as long as we have seen any practice this camp. Practice came to sort of a natural stop after a massive fight in which the whole team got involved. Here is everything you need to know from a fun-filled Sunday practice.
Punches were thrown
At the very end of practice, wide receiver Max Hurleman caught a ball and ran forward for a few yards before rookie safety Robert Spears-Jennings lowered his shoulder and put Hurleman in the dirt. The receiver did not take it too kindly, as he popped right back up and got in the rookie safety’s face. Seconds later, Hurleman and Spears-Jennings seemed to take each other to the ground fighting. This prompted the entire team to run over and get involved.
Somehow in the middle of it all, tight end Jaheim Bell and safety DeShon Elliott got into a serious altercation in which Bell was landing haymakers on Elliott. Bell even ripped off Elliott’s helmet at one point and was punching him in the face rather than his helmet. The huge brawl was eventually broken up by the coaching staff and some of the veteran players. The team ran one more play after the scuffle, but tempers had flared too much by that point to continue practice for much longer.
This frustration seemed to be building all practice long between the offense and defense after newly signed linebacker Elandon Roberts seemed to disregard the “no live tackling” rules at several points during camp. There were plenty of moments where you could audibly hear the offense yell “come on E-Rob.” Although it wasn’t Roberts involved in the fight that boiled over, he certainly played a key role in why we saw such a big disagreement today.
Lew Nichols has a strong hold on the RB3 job
I do believe we are getting to the point with Lew Nichols where calling him a “camp darling” doesn’t begin to to do the the team seems to view him justice. Despite averaging just 3.6 yards per carry in the team’s preseason opener, Nichols paced the Steelers running back room and led them in touches. In the walkthrough period to open practice, Nichols was on the field with Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle with the first and second teams while Eli Heidenreich and Kaleb Johnson were over on the second practice field with the third and fourth teams.
Nichols was always the third RB in line to get touches during drills and team periods. The way things played out in the preseason game and where the team has him playing in practice suggests they are at least strongly considering Nichols for the role. The running back had several touchdowns during 11-on-11 drills in practice and clearly has the support of others on the offense. Nichols could be on the verge of making the team with a strong finish to the preseason.
Rodgers-to-Wilson connection continues to pace the offense
During the first play of the team’s “Franco moment,” Rodgers stepped back and fired a laser over the middle to Roman Wilson, who caught the ball in stride for a huge gain. Wilson was quiet in his limited playing time in the preseason, but continues to have one of the strongest camps of any player. Later in practice, Rodgers hit Wilson again for a huge gain on what seemed to be the same play.
Wilson seems to have his most success in the slot, which should bode well for his regular season projections given he has had to play outside more with the injuries to DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. On Thursday, he mostly played outside with both Metcalf and Pittman out.
Other notes:
- RB Eli Heidenreich made a spinning catch for a touchdown on a Mason Rudolph pass, which got a huge reaction from the crowd. The Mt. Lebanon kid is already a massive fan favorite.
- CB D’Shawn Jamison had a quality day with a PBU in 7-on-7’s and an interception of a Drew Allar pass in red zone drills.
- DL Yahya Black was disruptive today. Black blew up several run plays during team periods and looks to be set up for increased opportunities in year two.
- Payton Wilson seems to have improved as a run defender this camp. Today was no exception as he was in the backfield and stopped a Lew Nichols carry for what would have been a tackle for a loss in a game setting.
- Elandon Roberts is back in his old number 50 jersey, while Jamin Davis is now wearing 57.
- DeShon Elliott and Darnell Washington were chirping at each other long after a play in which Elliott broke up a pass intended for Washington. This might have played into the serious altercation Elliott later had with Bell.
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