2025 Steelers Training Camp Takeaways No. 5: Kaleb Johnson learns the hard way, a new starting WR, and Joey Porter Jr.'s growth

What it means

Broderick Jones did return to practice, but with it being the first day of pads, it seems the Steelers opted to play it safe and let him sit out the more physical periods as he recovers from his soft tissue injury. As for Heyward, when you have his level of experience, you don't need the day-in and day-out work of camp.

It took until the second week of practice, but Robert Woods mixed into the first team rotation at WR. I wouldn't read too much into it, as Yahya Black was playing DE and Pat Freiermuth was playing FB by the end of practice (Dog days of camp), but it's an interesting note.

Aaron Rodgers didn't get a whole lot of help from his pass catchers on Wednesday, with several throws either missing high or going off the hands of his would-be pass catchers. When the defense is swarming the way they were on Wednesday, it's going to be tough for anyone to catch passes.

One of the few players you wanted to see level up their game in Week 2 of camp was RT Troy Fautanu. He seems to have done just that with the pads coming on. Anytime you can fend off the highest-paid non-QB in the league, multiple times, you're meeting, if not exceeding, expectations.

Defensive Takeaways

• Joey Porter Jr. with big tackles in team period
• Mark Robinson shines in Backs on Backers and team run period
• Nick Herbig is consistently in the backfield

What it means

Overall, the defense was the star of day one of pads, and they have been the star side of the ball throughout camp to this point. But when you see Joey Porter Jr. of all players, making not one, not two, but three tackles in team run, you know that unit is buzzing. Porter has struggled with tackling in the past, so hopefully this is a sign of what's to come.

DeShon Elliott forced a fumble on rookie RB Kaleb Johnson during team period, and the rookie was baptized by fire in backs on backers. His pass protection was put under a microscope, and veterans like Malik Harrison took full advantage. I expect to see him grow in this area over camp.

At some point, Nick Herbig is going to have a full breakout year and assert himself among the best EDGE players in the sport. The question is whether or not that happens in Pittsburgh or elsewhere.