Steel City Underground presents our 2022 Steelers Recall: a look back at Pittsburgh Steelers games and storylines from last season.

It’s hard to believe, but less than one full calendar year ago the Pittsburgh Steelers questions at the quarterback position were far from settled.

As training camp loomed, the team made more post-draft moves. DE Stephon Tuitt officially announced his retirement from the NFL on June 1st – it would take nearly three weeks, but the Steelers would sign Larry Ogunjobi as his replacement.

In the middle of those transactions was a larger one, as Minkah Fitzpatrick signed a new five-year deal to place his name among the league’s highest-paid players at the safety position.

Mike Tomlin offers some injury news as #Steelers Training Camp begins. Specifically Minkah Fitzpatrick and Tyson Alualu news pic.twitter.com/ZlTGSeJwTA

— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) July 26, 2022

Unfortunately, training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe would begin without Fitzpatrick, who would land on the NFL (Non-Football Injury) List. He would observe practice on-field, verbally communicating with teammates on defense but not participating in a physical capacity.

DE Tyson Alualu would continue his climb back from a season-ending injury in 2021, starting camp on the Active/PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) List.

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With those developments on defense, it was the offense that had the most attention. The buzz at the first few practices circulated around veteran QB Mitchell Trubisky, who was signed in off-season, along with incumbent 2018 third round draft pick Mason Rudolph, and two 2022 draft picks, first round selection Kenny Pickett from Pittsburgh and seventh round choice Chris Oladokun.

There was speculation from the pro-Pickett crowd about having him leapfrog both veteran passers to be the Week 1 starter, however, the search to replace retired future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger was fought between Trubisky and Rudolph taking the early first and second team reps.

However, those first or second teams were anything but, as backups started to fill in different roles, muddying who was in fact “QB1” though Pickett was seen taking the fewer snaps of all to start – with observers nothing Oladokun was merely there for emotional support.

Among those who were sidelined include RB Najee Harris, who gave way to Benny Snell and Jaylen Warren to get more looks. Former Titans RB Jeremy McNichols was added as camp started, but would land on IR (Injured Reserve). Similarly, WRs Anthony Miller and fourth-round pick Calvin Austin would both see their seasons finish before preseason action, thinning a receiver group that was without Diontae Johnson to start as well.

Diontae Johnson going through the receiving line during individual portion of practice. pic.twitter.com/zDfGsRFdN4

— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) July 28, 2022

Johnson reported to Latrobe, but like T.J. Watt a year before, was “sitting in” on practice, participating in select drills and off to his own as he sought a contract extension. He would sign one shortly after on August 4th, as Minkah Fitzpatrick would also be removed from the NFI List and rejoin full activity the same day.

Yet, none of that was the talk of early training camp sessions, as rookie WR George Pickens put everyone on notice. The Georgia product who slipped into round two of the 2022 NFL Draft was believed to be the real deal, and from all indications, he made the impossible look easy – often to where he made any of the competing quarterbacks’ poor passes seem ordinary.

https://twitter.com/MinkahMinaj/status/1552448860626505728

These moves made for an intriguing camp as Pickett’s limited reps began to grow and the squad came together ahead of Pittsburgh’s first preseason game on August 13th, at home against the Seahawks – which is where we will leave off until our next Recall column!