Steelers camp observations: Day 1 features defensive wins and a roller-coaster debut for Drew Allar

July 29, 2026 - 17:56

Aaron Rodgers quickly showed the familiarity and comfort he has with running a Mike McCarthy offense as the Steelers took the field at Saint Vincent College for the first official practice of training camp. The veteran quarterback, who signed with Pittsburgh this offseason, looked sharp during early drills, connecting on several intermediate routes with wide receiver George Pickens. However, the story of the day belonged to the defense, which consistently won the battle in team periods.

Second-year cornerback Joey Porter Jr. set the tone early, breaking up a pass intended for Diontae Johnson during 7-on-7 work. The defensive line, led by Cameron Heyward and rookie Keeanu Benton, generated consistent pressure against the starting offensive unit. T.J. Watt also made his presence felt, recording a would-be sack on a play that forced Rodgers to scramble.

The most talked-about performance of the day came from rookie quarterback Drew Allar. The first-round pick out of Penn State had a roller-coaster debut. He threw a beautiful deep ball to Calvin Austin III for a touchdown during one drill, showing off the arm strength that made him a top prospect. But he also struggled with consistency, throwing two interceptions in team periods. The first was a tipped pass that landed in the hands of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The second came on a poorly thrown out route that cornerback Levi Wallace jumped and returned for what would have been a score.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said after practice that he expects growing pains from Allar but praised his poise. "He didn't let the mistakes snowball," Tomlin said. "He came back and made some plays." The team will hold a second practice on Saturday morning, with the pads expected to come on later in the week.