TE Green to miss start of practice
New Steelers tight end Ladarius Green won’t practice with the rest of his teammates today when the Steelers conduct their first practice of training camp. Green, who missed spring practice and minicamp after offseason ankle surgery, has not been cleared to practice and will start camp on the physically unable to perform list. Second-year receiver Shakim Phillips, who is recovering from a sports hernia, also will start camp on the PUP list.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday he anticipated Green’s injury would linger into the summer and gave no timetable for his return. Practices this summer were viewed as vital for Green because he is new to the offense after playing his first four seasons with the San Diego Chargers. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was looking forward to working with his new tight end in the spring, and now he’s going to have to wait a little longer.
“Sometimes that cohesion happens quickly in some relationships,” Tomlin said. “Sometimes it takes an extended period of time. I don’t know what it’s going to be for those two. Ladarius has been very attentive in the mental aspect of the game throughout the spring and summer.
“Hopefully, that aids him in that development. He’s done a good job of interacting in an informal manner, but there’s no substitute for playing and getting a feel for one another. We’re just not able to do that at this point.”
Rookie defensive lineman Devauntae Sigler will start camp on the non-football injury list after he failed the conditioning test Thursday.
DeCastro waits
The Steelers took care of business with their 2010 and 2011 first-round picks before training camp started the past two years. This summer they’ll be negotiating a longterm contract with 2012 firstround pick David DeCastro during camp. Center
Maurkice Pouncey signed his second contract during minicamp in 2014 and defensive end Cameron Heyward signed his new contract about a week before last year’s camp started.
“I’m just trying to play football and let my agent deal with that,” DeCastro said. “That’s the easiest way for me to deal with it. I have one year left. I know that for sure. That’s all I can control.”
DeCastro has been shopping for insurance policies just in case he cannot come to terms on a long-term deal. The Steelers are paying DeCastro $8 million this season.
“I’m not going to lie,” DeCastro said. “I think about it, but at the same time I don’t worry about it. It’d be great [if a deal was struck]. But at the same time there are two sides to it. At the end of the day, play the year out and get an insurance policy. I’m prepared on both sides.”
No distraction
Tomlin said veteran linebacker James Harrison’s battle with the NFL over his cooperation with their investigation into performance-enhancing drugs has not been an issue for him or the team. The NFL would like to interview Harrison about a news report that mentioned him, but the players’ union is not allowing Harrison to speak to the league until it provides “credible evidence.”
Union spokesman Carl Francis said Wednesday no interview with Harrison had been scheduled.
“I’m not looking for clarity,” Tomlin said. “That’s between James and New York and the union. As long as it doesn’t conflict with the business I have here I’m going to leave it with those entities. It hasn’t been an issue for me or us whatsoever.”