10 Players Who Impressed at Steelers Training Camp: Week 2
LATROBE -- The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up Week 2 of training camp, and even outside of a few position changes and the pads coming on, it was an exciting week for a number of players.
Week 2's most impressive players stepped up after a slower opening week. Some came out of nowhere. Some are starting to force competition at the position. And some are doing things that could cause a complete change to the offensive gameplan.
Here's who stood out...
Kendrick Green, OL/FB
There was no one, and I cannot stress this enough, NO ONE who had a better week at Steelers training camp than Kendrick Green. It's nothing to do with performance, although he did impress, but it's everything to do with a position change that is lighting up the fanbase.
Green made his fullback debut during the team's night practice and set the crowd on fire when he bulldozed rookie linebacker Toby Ndukwe on a reception. He followed that up with another reception the next day where he ran through inside linebacker Tanner Muse, kept his balance and picked up a 10-yard gain.
Green has been doing work with the running backs during individual drills and was working the jugs machine after practice.
The Steelers might have something in this guy as a versatile big man. And it's hard not to love it if it's going to lead to explosive hits like he showcased this week.
Chandon Sullivan, CB
After being quiet during the opening week of camp, Chandon Sullivan came out firing in Week 2. He had a number of pass breakups, including a game-sealing swat at the line of scrimmage in a two-minute drill against Kenny Pickett.
Sullivan rushed off the edge at the four-yard line and came in untouched to the backfield. Before he could get to the quarterback, Pickett threw a pass, but Sullivan got his hands up and punched it right back in the QB's face.
Sullivan and Elijah Riley appear to be the front-runners for the nickelback job at this point. It's hard to pinpoint a leader, as Sullivan has made it a tight race heading into the first preseason game.
Patrick Peterson, CB
Patrick Peterson is not 33 years old. At least he's not playing like it.
The expectations for Peterson coming into camp and what they are right now are vastly different. He was viewed as an older piece who would need to bounce around the secondary to ensure he could keep him with opposing wide receivers.
From what he's shown at training camp, keeping up won't be an issue, and he's still got plenty of gas left in the tank heading into the 2023 season.
Peterson has shut down George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, and pretty much anyone else the Steelers have thrown his way in coverage. Right now, they should feel pretty good about where their cornerback room is with him and Levi Wallace on the outside.
Calvin Austin, WR
Calvin Austin was labeled a 'loser' of camp last week, but his bounce back has been strong. Head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed he's been challenging Austin during the second week of camp, and the second-year receiver has proven worthy of the challenge.
Austin has showcased his speed on go routes, beating Joey Porter Jr., Elijah Riley, Chandon Sullivan and Tre Norwood throughout the week. He's also made some plays on screen passes and seems to be winning more times than not in one-on-one drills.
"I've been challenging him, and the big challenge for him is, you know, to perform out here in a setting like this, like a guy that's been around here," Tomlin said. "He's been around here but he hasn't had physical reps and so there was a challenge. So far, so good. He's not performing like a rookie, he’s performing like the guy that's been in the program, and that's encouraging."
Expectations for Austin remain high this season, and he appears to be shaking off the rust as training camp progresses.
George Pickens, WR
George Pickens is unbelievable. Coming into training camp, everyone expected this second-year receiver to take off running, but the show he's put on seems to be nonstop entertainment.
In the second week of camp, Pickens has made not one, but two viral catches. The first one came over rookie Joey Porter Jr. and made its way around the internet by the end of practice. The second was a toe-tap in the back of the endzone that may have caught some people by surprise, but for those who have seen him in practice before, it was a routine grab.
Pickens may be on his way to superstardom this season if everything clicks. And judging from his second week of training camp, it's going to be a highlight-reel season for the receiver.
Dan Chisnea, WR
Last week it was Cody White who made his way onto the most impressive players list, and this week, it's Penn State alum Dan Chisnea.
Chisnea was quiet last week but opened up this week of practice with a few impressive plays. He beat multiple third-team players on go route, had a nice sideline catch on the final day, and even ended team drills on the final day of practice with a deep touchdown.
Chisnea has a difficult path to the 53-man roster, but if he continues to show out, he'll give himself a chance. And worst case, he'll have quality film on tape for other organizations.
Kwon Alexander, LB
Kwon Alexander hit the ground running on all cylinders when he stepped onto the practice field. The eight-year veteran joined the team during their final practice last week but took a day or two to get accustomed to the defense.
Once he got comfortable, he took off, immediately looking like the fastest and most electric inside linebacker on the field. This included multiple goal-line stands and tackles for loss where he came up the middle and found the running back almost immediately after the handoff.
Things slowed down toward the end of the week, but with the pads coming on and off after two hard days, there wasn't nearly as much excitement by the team as a whole.
Right now, Alexander is listed behind Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts on the official depth chart, but it's hard to imagine he doesn't play equally as much during games.
Isaiaah Loudermilk, DT
It's going to be difficult for the Steelers to cut some of their defensive linemen. Through two weeks of camp, and especially once the pads came out, pretty much everyone has made plays.
In Week 2, Isaiaah Loudermilk and Montraveius Adams (who we'll talk about in a minute) were the strongest performers. Loudermilk had a few run stuffs where he peeled off an offensive lineman and stood in the backfield to wrap up the ball carrier.
With the additions of Armon Watts and Breiden Fehoko, it's tough to say which of these defensive linemen are getting kicked from the roster in two weeks. If Loudermilk continues to show promise, though, it's tough to say they're ditching their third-year fifth-round pick.
Montraveius Adams, DT
Adams is not letting the additions of anyone bother him. He's continued to look good at practice, seems like an even better pass rusher than he was a year ago, and is in control of his roster spot heading into the third week.
If everything continues, he'll remain the starter for the start of the season, and rightfully so. No one has looked as good as he has at the nose tackle position, and that's considering that the group has looked very impressive overall.
Unless something changes, Adams is making sure he's sticking around for another year in Pittsburgh.
Luq Barcoo, CB
After a quiet first week, Luq Barcoo made some plays in Week 2. What really stood out, though, was the final day of practice where he had two quality pass deflections, one against Dez Fitzpatrick on an out route, and the other was in the two-minute drill in the back of the endzone to help hand the defense a victory.
At the same time Barcoo was starting to standout, his biggest competition, James Pierre, began to struggle. Overall, the week was certainly in favor of the former XFL standout, and entering Week 3, the competition for the final cornerback spots is red hot.
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