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In just a matter of days, the Pittsburgh Steelers will report to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe to usher in a new era of Steelers football. Mike McCarthy will begin his first training camp as the Steelers’ head coach. The offseason brought sweeping changes, but the same intense heat will bear down on Chuck Noll Field. Not just from the summer sun, but from the fierce competition for precious roster spots.
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Three Steelers, in particular, need strong training camps to prove they still belong under the new regime in Pittsburgh. These veterans face increased competition at their positions or are looking to overcome challenges that have lingered over the past two seasons. Here are three Steelers who need to make the most of training camp in 2026.
Malik Harrison
Malik Harrison has been a name to watch throughout the offseason and heading into training camp. While he doesn’t offer much in the passing game, he provides value on special teams and remains a dependable run defender. He won’t just push Payton Wilson during camp, he’ll also battle Cole Holcomb and Carson Bruener for the primary backup linebacker role.
The Steelers also re-signed UFL standout Jacoby Windmon, adding even more competition to the room. The biggest factor working against Harrison, however, is his cap hit of more than $6 million. Pittsburgh could save $4.75 million by moving on from him during roster cutdowns.
Ben Skowronek
Ben Skowronek may have earned Pro Bowl honors as a special teamer, but he’ll face more competition this offseason. It’s unclear whether the new coaching staff will value him the same way the previous regime did. If the Steelers decide to go in a different direction, Skowronek could become a practice squad candidate. His value and existing chemistry with Aaron Rodgers, however, could work heavily in his favor.
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Skowronek is the type of player teams want on their roster. He does the dirty work and embraces virtually any role he’s asked to fill. He could also strengthen his case with another standout training camp as a leader on special teams. The biggest question is what he still needs to show to lock down a roster spot. Whatever the answer, he’s built to respond to the challenge.
Dean Lowry / Logan Lee
The Steelers not only have young, ascending talent at defensive tackle, but they also signed veteran Sebastian Joseph-Day. That leaves both Logan Lee and Dean Lowry firmly on the roster bubble entering training camp. Not only will they compete against each other, but they’ll also battle the rest of the defensive line for one of the final roster spots.
Lee could still find his way back to the practice squad, but this training camp may represent Lowry’s last opportunity to stick in Pittsburgh.
Both players have seen limited action over the past two seasons because of injuries. Lee, however, built momentum late last season, making several key plays in Week 18, including a pass deflection that led to an interception by T.J. Watt. Lowry missed all of last season with a torn ACL but was a serviceable contributor in 2024. He also turned 32 this year. If either player wants to remain in Pittsburgh, a strong training camp will be essential.
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This story was originally published July 26, 2026 at 5:30 AM.