Steelers rookie TE returns to practice: Training camp injury update

The Steelers leave Week 2 of training camp with a few injuries to monitor.

The first two weeks of training camp are in the books, and the Steelers’ preseason opener is less than a week away.

Monday will be an off day for the Steelers before practice resumes on Tuesday. But the team has some injuries to keep an eye on headed into the third week of camp.

Notably, one injury scare seems to be officially over, with rookie tight end/fullback D.J. Thomas-Jones returning to practice on Sunday. Thomas-Jones was feared to have suffered a torn Achilles early last week, with head coach Mike Tomlin calling the injury “significant.”

However, the undrafted free agent was back on the field Sunday, appearing to have a sleeve on the left leg that he previously injured.

More notable injuries include Alex Highsmith, who suffered a groin injury at practice, and rookie cornerback Donte Kent, who missed practice Saturday and appeared in a walking boot on Sunday. The severity and timeline of both injuries has not been reported.

Other injury reports are as follows:

• Defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo, who injured his knee Wednesday, did some individual work on Sunday, per Alex Kozora.
• Cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice Jr. missed practice, per Alan Saunders, as did wide receiver Calvin Austin III, per Brooke Pryor.
• Tackle Calvin Anderson also missed practice for another day, per Kozora. Nick Farabaugh reported rookie tackle Gareth Warren was in street clothes on Sunday.
• Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Saturday that Anderson and Trice’s soft tissue injuries might require “more than a few days” of recovery, per Sanders.
• Kozora reported that offensive linemen Broderick Jones and Isaac Seumalo were both full participants after suffering injuries earlier in camp. After some negative reports earlier this week, Farabaugh and other beat writers noted Pittsburgh’s left tackle had an improved day of practice on Sunday.
• Per Mike DeFabo, reserve center Ryan McCollum and starting nose tackle Keeanu Benton returned to practice on Sunday after previous injuries.

The Steelers return to training camp Aug. 5. They’ll host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 9 for their preseason opener at 7 p.m. EST.