Jul 26, 2024 4 min read

LATROBE – The Steelers opened training camp at Saint Vincent College and new quarterback Russell Wilson took center stage.

On reporting day, Wilson had no problem talking about the team’s goal – his goal for the season.

“Our mission is to win it all, to win the Super Bowl,” Wilson said Wednesday as the Steelers reported for the first day of training camp. “But we’ve got to do the work necessary. It doesn’t just happen overnight. That’s in our control.”

For many, that would be considered lip service. But as a quarterback who has twice led his team to the Super Bowl, winning once, Wilson knows what it takes.

Ironically, the following day, as the Steelers held their first practice, Wilson did not take part because of some tightness in his calf. That threw up some red flags for some, but realize that Wilson has been incredibly durable in his career. From 2012 through 2020, he didn’t miss a start. Ironically, the first missed start of Wilson’s career in 2021 came against the Steelers when he was forced to have surgery on a dislocated finger on his throwing hand.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made the decision to hold Wilson out of practice Thursday. It wasn’t Wilson’s decision. And Thursday’s practice, shortened because of CBA rules, was hardly an important session.

Yes, it was the first practice of training camp. But the team wasn’t in pads – it won’t be until Tuesday. And it was only 90 minutes long.

As Wilson said when he reported, “I think the best thing is that we get to put the pads on now. The reality is you really get to see who are men and who can really play in this league a long time and be physical and contest things. We’ll figure out more things while we’re here.”

The pads go on Tuesday.

That’s when training camp really begins. And that’s when we’ll really start to get a grasp on what kind of team the Steelers will be in 2024.

• Steelers general manager Omar Khan said nothing is happening on the trade front around the league as everyone has just reported to training camps across the country.

But that doesn’t mean that the market won’t begin to heat up when we get into mid-August as teams get an idea of what they have and what they need.

“There’s nothing going on right now,” Khan said when asked about making a trade for a wide receiver. “I’ll tell you this, when you have 32 GMs, conversations always happen. But there’s nothing ongoing right now.”

That might not be what some people want to hear, but it’s the reality. It doesn’t mean nothing will happen. The Steelers are still expected to be in the market for another wide receiver to start opposite George Pickens. But everyone is in a holding pattern.

• The Major League Baseball trade deadline is Tuesday and the Pirates must add to the current roster.

The interesting thing for the team is that it has a surplus of starting pitching – or at least soon will when Bailey Falter (soon) and Jared Jones (mid-August) return.

You can never have enough pitching, but Luis Ortiz has pitched well enough in a starting role to continue to hold down one of the spots behind Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller. Quinn Priester also has been good in a long role since returning from the minors and could be ready for another shot at the rotation.

That could make Marco Gonzales and Martin Perez expendable. Or, perhaps another team could see something in Priester to the point of being willing to take him on as part of a trade package for a hitter.

At the very least, those starting pitcher options could help restock the minor league system and replace any prospects dealt to acquire another outfielder.

The Pirates should be very active at the deadline, both as a buyer and a seller.

• We’re just under two weeks away from the start of the Pony League World Series.

This year’s Washington County team, which boasts players from the Canon-McMillan, Trinity, Avella and Washington school districts, won’t play until Sunday, Aug. 11 at noon.

Fresh off a run to the tournament finals last season, Washington County will await the winner of a first-round game between the East Zone champion and Gijon, Spain.

Dale Lolley hosts The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio and writes a Sunday column for the Observer-Reporter.