LATROBE – The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to ease into the season as it was another fairly laid-back practice to begin training camp. The team emphasized individual drills today, in between giving us some telling team period and two-minute drill reps. It’s time for us to look at who helped their stock and those whose stock is trending down after the second training camp practice of 2026.
Stock up
WR Roman Wilson
It’s impossible to deny how Roman Wilson has performed through two practices in Latrobe. Wilson is the third receiver,
primarily lining up in the slot in 11-personnel sets, and has been Aaron Rodgers’ most common target through the first few practices. Both Rodgers and DK Metcalf were complimentary of the work Wilson has put in this offseason on Tuesday, and the former third-round pick has backed it up so far. Although it is early and pads have not come on yet, Wilson seems to have a strong hold of the WR3 role for now.
QB Will Howard
Second-year quarterback Will Howard took a major step up today. He had several quality layered throws over the middle of the field between defenders. In what was one of the bigger plays of the entire practice, Howard found a wide-open Kaden Wetjen on what appeared to be a broken coverage down the right sideline that would have gone for a 60-yard touchdown in a game.
Howard was given the honors to quarterback the second and final two-minute drill of practice. He appeared to be in control, making several quick throws across the middle of the field to get the offense over midfield. However, the drive ended poorly with an interception of a double-clutched throw of Howard by safety Sebastian Castro that ended practice. Although it the day didn’t end well for Howard, there was far more good than bad for the young quarterback.
WR Kaden Wetjen
The rookie fourth-rounder out of Iowa has been first in line to catch punts from Cameron Johnston in each of the first two practices. We also got to see our first flash of him as a receiver, as he was on the receiving end of a Will Howard throw downfield as I mentioned above. Wetjen did not have much usage as a receiver in college, and when he did, it was often screen passes. It was encouraging to see Wetjen on the receiving end of a downfield shot, as he figures to be the team’s featured return man as well.
Stock down
QB Mason Rudolph
Through two practices, we have seen young quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar step up and make big time throws over the middle and down the field. While Mason Rudolph has not done anything particularly bad thus far, he has not had a “wow” throw, if you will. The quarterback had what would have been a big play down the field to Pat Freiermuth batted down by Asante Samuel Jr. who made a diving play to break up the pass.
For Rudolph, it seems to be backup or bust in a battle with Howard. While Howard put together several nice plays today and was rewarded with quarterbacking the second two-minute drill to end practice, Rudolph could only watch. It will come down to the preseason games and become clearer who the Steelers prefer once pads go on, but Howard was favored more than Rudolph on this day.
RB/WR Eli Heidenreich
It’s not so much about what Heidenreich has done; it’s simply the fact that he isn’t getting much run through the first few practices. The seventh-round pick had a lot of hype coming into camp, and I had thought he could potentially challenge Kaleb Johnson for the RB3 role, but it has been Johnson getting those reps over Heidenreich consistently to start camp. It is very early on, and Heidenreich has been getting work as a punt returner. His versatility as a runner, receiver, and returner should give him a good shot to make the team; it’s just a matter of getting those opportunities and making the most of them. No reason to have any concerns about him yet, but the lack of usage gives his stock a downward trend.
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