It's Wednesday, which means it's time for a weekly Steelers links roundup at BTSC. But first, let's take a look around the AFC North:
Now, onto some Steelers news and discussion:
(From Steelers Now's Chris Ward): Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith walked off the field with a trainer before the final period of practice on Tuesday. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin revealed after practice that Smith left with some knee soreness, but doesn't appear to be significant.
The latest on injuries from the Steelers' Tuesday training camp practice. Also worth noting:
(From TribLive's Tim Benz): How about you coaching him? Given his resume and experience, are you doing more teaching? Or are you doing more observing and reporting back to him?: "Whatever is needed in the moment," Arth replied. "I think there's probably not going to be a whole lot that I'm going to show Aaron on tape that he hasn't seen before, or things that he hasn't heard. But my job is to help prepare him as well as I can so that he can go out there and play his best. That's the bottom line."
This full Q&A with the Steelers' quarterbacks coach is worth the read. Benz points out that Arth and Aaron Rodgers were briefly teammates during the 2006 preseason.
Benz also raises an interesting question: As knowledgeable as Arth is when it comes to football, what can he teach someone like Rodgers? Arth gives a great answer: It's not just about teaching, but rather assisting with aspects of the game such as preparation.
(From Sports Illustrated's Ari Meyer): The Atlanta Falcons have made a transaction, signing a former Pittsburgh Steelers training camp standout in Grayland Arnold.
Arnold spent the 2024 offseason with the Steelers and at one point was considered a strong candidate for the starting slot cornerback job. Now, he's set to compete for a job in Atlanta.
(From Steelers Wire's Curt Popejoy): But just as important, when the Steelers add that fourth quarterback, it can't just be a camp body. With Howard out, Skylar Thompson is the team's No. 3 quarterback, so here are three free agents who would push Thompson for that final roster spot.
Carson Wentz
....
Popejoy rightly points out that the Steelers like to keep four quarterbacks through the offseason. With Will Howard's hand injury keeping him out of the action for potentially a month, it makes sense that Pittsburgh could be in the market for a stopgap at backup quarterback.
You can read the article for the full list -- Wentz is the flashiest name -- but keep in mind that Skylar Thompson is a more than serviceable QB3 while Howard recovers. The Steelers could, and likely will, settle for a smaller-name "camp body" if they need another quarterback.
(From Sports Illustrated's Jack Markowski): The Pittsburgh Steelers released their initial depth chart for the 2025 season on Tuesday morning, and it featured a notable development on the wide receiver front.
DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III, as expected, were listed as the two starters at the position. Amidst an impressive showing at training camp thus far, however, Scotty Miller has usurped 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson and is now listed as a second-string receiver alongside Robert Woods.
The Steelers' initial depth chart (I'll embed it below) is never meant to be taken seriously. Head coach Mike Tomlin certainly doesn't.
But Roman Wilson, who's reportedly been running with the first-team offense in training camp, being listed as a WR5/6 feels a little surprising. Despite the fact that he's only played five career NFL snaps, he's not a rookie. But he's getting the rookie treatment in the team's initial depth chart.
More impressive is that Scotty Miller and Robert Woods are running ahead of not just Wilson but also Ben Skowronek, another assumed roster lock.
Wilson has had a quiet training camp for a player who needs to make a lot of noise in 2025. With Calvin Austin III specializing in the slot, the Steelers need someone to step up opposite D.K. Metcalf on the boundary when the team is in three-wide-receiver sets.
However, Wilson is still a young and very inexperienced NFL player, and he's reportedly coming off his best practice of the summer on Tuesday. Maybe the depth chart ploy was just motivation -- and it seemed to work.
If I had to guess, Wilson doesn't come across as an eventual high-end WR2. But that's just a guess. I was very low on Calvin Austin III following a slow first two years of his NFL career, and he's since developed into a quality player. The Roman Wilson worry or hype train can start eventually, but we'll need more than five snaps to get it going.