Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has given Kenny Pickett all of the reps with the second-team offense in practice this week in an effort to prepare him for a new assignment Saturday night when the Steelers visit Jacksonville for their second preseason game.
Pickett did not play until the second half against the Seahawks and against players at the bottom of their roster. The expectation for Saturday night is for Pickett to play in the first half.
“It’s preparation more than anything,” Tomlin said. “He’s going to get some reps in more varsity-like action in this game in an effort to get to know him and see how he fares. What he’s doing out here is just preparing for it.”
Pickett fared well in his first NFL action against the Seahawks, completing 13 of 15 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.
It would appear Tomlin is leaning toward treating the third and final preseason game against the Lions as the dress rehearsal for the regular season. Typically, the third preseason game is the dress rehearsal, but there are 14 days between the final preseason game and the Sept. 11 regular-season opener in Cincinnati, a longer-than-normal span.
“I don’t know that I’m addressing this game as a dress rehearsal,” Tomlin said. “We are doing more game planning as part of the evolution of development. We’ll get to next week next week.”
Oladokun gets some reps
It hasn’t been readily apparent in previous training camp practices, but the Steelers did draft two quarterbacks in the spring. Chris Oladokun, a seventh-round selection from South Dakota State, got his first reps of camp Wednesday afternoon.
Oladokun was the scout-team quarterback during some card periods and also threw some passes in 7-on-7 drills.
“He did some good things,” Tomlin said. “He’s been working diligently. He is locked in. I appreciate his approach to business, the level of maturity he’s been displaying. It’s only a matter of time he gets more physical reps to show what he’s capable of.”
Oladokun did not play in the first preseason game against the Seahawks.
Tomlin had his players in helmets and shorts in the penultimate practice at Saint Vincent. They spent a good portion of practice walking through Jacksonville’s offensive and defensive looks on cards.
The final open practice is scheduled for 1:55 p.m. Thursday.
“We think that’s appropriate. We’re excited about taking the next step in development, a little more game planning, going on the road,” Tomlin said. “Jacksonville has been in one additional stadium. They’re a week further down the line. We look forward to measuring ourselves against that and them. That’s our mentality as we lean in for the rest of the week.”
Jacksonville played in the Hall of Fame game and will play four preseason games.
Hard work paying off
Punter Pressley Harvin III was holding a piece of paper as he walked up the hill from Wednesday’s morning walk-through. The paper had Harvin’s punts from Tuesday’s practice charted.
Three of his punts traveled 60 yards or more. His best punt was a 63-yarder with a 5.32-second hang time. His other two punts over 60 yards also stayed in the air longer than five seconds.
“I’ll take it,” Harvin said. “The hard work is starting to show off.”
Injury update
Defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk injured his ribs and did not finish practice. Running back Master Teague, who injured his left ankle in Tuesday’s practice, was in a walking boot. Tomlin said all others who have been working their way back from injuries have not had setbacks.
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.
First Published: August 17, 2022, 9:27 p.m.
Updated: August 18, 2022, 10:33 a.m.
