The Pittsburgh Steelers opened their 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, with a Wednesday morning practice highlighted by defensive success and a late scoring strike from rookie quarterback Drew Allar. The session marked the first practice under head coach Mike McCarthy, who is in his first year with the team leading the roster.
Defense Dominates Early Sessions
The Steelers defense showed strong early form, particularly against the pass, despite missing top defensive backs Jalen Ramsey, who is on the PUP list, and Porter. According to the Post Gazette, the defense typically wins early in camp while the offense establishes its rhythm, and Wednesday provided a first look at the unit under Patrick Graham.
Standouts for the defense included Cole Holcomb and linebacker Queen, both of whom recorded multiple pass breakups. One of Holcomb’s breakups directly led to an interception by Payton Wilson. Following the practice, Queen stated, We’re confident. Everything we went over from OTAs to now is about detail. We feel like we’re on one page
.
Quarterback Hierarchy and Allar’s Debut
The quarterback rotation on Wednesday established a clear pecking order. Aaron Rodgers took the majority of the snaps with the first-team offense, demonstrating familiarity with the Mike McCarthy system. He was followed by veteran backup Mason Rudolph, then Will Howard, and finally the rookie Drew Allar.
Allar, a 6-foot-5, 228-pound former Penn State player selected with the 76th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, experienced a volatile debut. The Post Gazette reported that Allar threw multiple interceptions and off-target passes, including one underneath throw tipped by Holcomb and intercepted by Wilson. However, Allar finished the day on a high note during a simulated end-of-game red-zone drill. On the final play of practice, Allar threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Robert Tonyan, which was the only touchdown of the day.
Allar described the quarterback room as competitive but supportive, noting that the veterans have gone out of their way to answer his questions. He also highlighted the impact of head coach Mike McCarthy, stating that McCarthy is present in approximately 90% of their meetings when free.
Offensive Line and Depth Chart
The first-team offensive line remained consistent with the group used during minicamp and OTAs:
- Left Tackle: Troy Fautanu
- Left Guard: Mason McCormick
- Center: Zach Frazier
- Right Guard: Spencer Anderson
- Right Tackle: Dylan Cook
Broderick Jones, a 2023 first-round pick, returned from injury as a full participant but took his repetitions with the second-team offense at left tackle. Rookies Gennings Dunker and Max Iheanachor rotated between the second- and third-team units. The team is currently in an acclimation period without pads; the first padded practice is scheduled for Monday.
Development and Roster Outlook
Allar has focused on improving his footwork and rhythm since being drafted, stating that the process felt like drinking through a fire hose
initially. He noted that the team’s “quarterback school” relies heavily on daily video analysis of practice drills, a method previously used by Rodgers and coach Arth under McCarthy in Green Bay.
While McCarthy has suggested all four quarterbacks could potentially make the 53-man roster, some analysis suggests Allar is viewed as a developmental player who may not see significant field time during the 2026 season. He is expected to compete with Will Howard for the starting role once Rodgers retires as he learns the nuances of the position from his veteran teammates.
Worth a look