Steelers Now
UNITY TWP, Pa. — Pittsburgh Steelers reserve fullback/tight end DJ Thomas-Jones left Sunday’s training camp practice at St. Vincent College during the third team period of the day. Trainers attended to a left ankle/calf injury as he sat on a water cooler, then helped him onto the front of the cart, where he was in obvious discomfort.
During the period, Thomas-Jones caught a pass from Skylar Thompson with linebacker Mark Robinson draped over him.
“DJ Thomas-Jones looked like he had a more significant injury,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said after practice. “That’s being evaluated. The next time we come together, I’ll have some more information in that regard for you.”
Thomas-Jones, an undrafted free agent by way of South Alabama, has been taking reps behind the Steelers’ stable of tight ends, including Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Jonnu Smith.
Smith had been limited in the team’s first two practices of the week before being a full go on Saturday.
After transferring from Ole Miss, Thomas-Jones played in 36 games for South Alabama, totaling 73 grabs for 610 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was listed as a four-star recruit by Rivals in the 2019-20 signing class.
Mike Tomlin’s team has already dealt with a major injury in the tight end room, losing 6-foot-8 Donald Parham Jr. to an Achilles tear during the fourth practice of OTAs. Parham had played in 47 regular-season games for the Los Angeles Chargers, totaling 100 targets, 764 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’d set career-highs in 2023 with 27 receptions, 285 yards and four scores.
The Steelers’ tight end group also includes Connor Heyward and JJ Galbreath. The team acquired Smith in its deal that also netted three-time Associated Press All-Pro Jalen Ramsey in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick’s Miami Dolphins contract was altered to his liking on Sunday morning.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Rookie Carted Off the Field at Practice
