(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Mike Tomlin spoke with the media today after the Steelers' first training camp practice and there was some good news on the injury front, as no players will start the year on the physically-unable-to-perform list. That means inside linebacker Devin Bush and offensive tackle Zach Banner, who both suffered season-ending ACL injuries last year will be full participants for training camp.
Tomlin also revealed that rookie center Kendrick Green will start in the Hall of Fame Game against the Cowboys on Aug. 5. Likewise, for second-year defensive back Antoine Brooks Jr. who will open as the first-team slot cornerback.
"These guys come to work, particularly when they have been exposed to some of the things that he's been exposed to," Tomlin said. "He's played Big 10 football. He's been in some big circumstances. We'll see what the process does to him, but not a bad issue or a bad start from today's perspective at all.
"This is our first day working in a training camp-like setting, but he's been working extremely hard dating back to the spring since we acquired him with classrooms, zooms and so forth. So, he just had an opportunity to show some of that today.
"A one-day sample, but we thought it was important to get those guys that we're trying to get to start in the Hall of Fame game as much work as we can. There's no indication of where they are in terms of their career. You can label him a starter if you choose. He is. He's a starter for the Hall of Fame Game if that means anything."
Ben Roethlisberger said that Green got first-team reps at center and made the calls today and didn't fumble a snap, according to Jim Wexell of Steel City Insider.
Wexell also reported that Brooks had a diving pick on Roethlisberger today and that the future Hall of Fame quarterback was "amazed" by the play.