It’s finally July and that means we are less than a month away from the start of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. This will be the most important training camp the Steelers have had in two decades with new head coach Mike McCarthy in charge and a 10-year drought without a playoff win. Here are the 10 questions to answer at training camp and the preseason.
1 – How much does Cameron Heyward have left?
It feels like Cameron Heyward will play forever and this season he might have to take on a heavy load in 2026. Derrick Harmon is the future of the position but we don’t see a ton of depth behind Heyward this year and this means the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer isn’t going to get any breaks on Sunday.
2 – Can DK Metcalf finally be a No. 1 wide receiver?
Metcalf has been a borderline No. 1 receiver for his entire career but is still waiting for that breakout season. If he can’t do it with this team, it might not ever happen.
3 – Will it still be a running back by committee?
The Steelers have two starting-caliber running backs with Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle but it isn’t like McCarthy to use a two-back split. We’ve been consistent in thinking Dowdle will be the lead back because of his experience with McCarthy’s offense.
4 – How long until Max Iheanachor takes over?
Dylan Cook is having a strong offseason and is currently the starting right tackle. However, the Steelers drafted Max Iheanachor to be the starter and this means Cook has very little margin for error before the rookie takes over.
5 – If T.J. Watt can’t bounce back, is he gone?
It’s crazy to think Watt could have two bad seasons in a row and be out but after signing Nick Herbig and signing a huge extension in the offseason, Watt might need a DPOY type pf season to keep a spot on the roster.
6 – How different will the team be under Mike McCarthy?
We’ve already seen a very different practice experience with McCarthy as head coach, now we want to see what the team’s gameday experience is like. We look for a more diverse and aggressive defense along with a more pass-heavy offense.
7 – How much does Aaron Rodgers left in the tank?
We have no doubt that Aaron Rodgers can still sling it. But last season he looked terrified when the pressure came and his lack of poise was a problem. Can this new scheme and new players help Rodgers relax and perform?
8 – Will Joey Porter Jr. get his new contract?
All eyes are going to be on cornerback Joey Porter Jr. when training camp starts to see if he’s holding out for a huge contract extension. After seeing Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington getting big paydays, not giving Porter his could be a distraction.
9 – What will the Steelers do with Nick Herbig?
There’s no way the Steelers are giving Herbig a $100 million contract and not play him but the the big money doesn’t kick in until next season so the Steelers might keep his workload light and sort out the T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith situations and put Herbig into the starting lineup in 2027.
10 – Is the playoff slump finally over?
If McCarthy wants a parade and a statue in his honor after one season, just win a playoff game. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016 and this is a huge reason why fans aren’t going to miss Mike Tomlin.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 10 questions the Steelers must answer at training camp
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