Cornerback Golson carted off field again

In what has become a familiar but discouraging sight, Steelers cornerback Senquez Golson was carted from the field on the first day of practice in pads — just as hewas a year ago.

Coach Mike Tomlin did not specify what happened to Golson, only to refer to it as a “soft tissue injury” that he said could be related to fatigueor dehydration.

Tomlin also lumped inside linebacker Vince Williams and safety Mike Mitchell in that same category, but their circumstances appeared different. Williams did not practice and stood on the sideline, while Mitchell walked off the field just five plays into practice. That was different than Golson, who was carted off the field toward the end of practice.

Asked if it was frustrating to see Golson get injured again on the first day of padded practice, Tomlin said: “Not for me. I’m sure it is for him. It’s just part of this process, unfortunately.”

Golson, a No. 2 draft choice in 2015, has not played in a game of any kind with the Steelers. He missed the entire training camp and rookie season with a shoulder injury and missed the entire 2016 season after a Lisfranc foot injury on the first day of practice in pads at training camp.

Secondary coach Carnell Lake said at minicamp Golson likely would have to make the 53-man roster as a special-teams player. It remains to be seen if he can even get to that point … again.

In addition to Golson, rookie running back James Conner of Pitt left practice with what Tomlin said was a “shoulder injury of some description.” Conner had his leftarm in a sling afterward.

Also, tight end Xavier Grimble and rookie outside linebacker Keion Adams, their seventh-round choice, left with heat-related issue. Rookie tight end Scott Orndoff of Pitt had a soft-tissue injuryas well, Tomlin said.

“Such is life this time of year,”Tomlin said.

Big Ben given day off

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was given the day off byTomlin and wasn’t around for practice, but the estimated crowd of 7,500 was entertained by the catches and moves of All-Pro wide receiverAntonio Brown.

The loud roar came when Brown caught a slant pass from Landry Jones and turned cornerback Artie Burns around three or four times with quick moves before outracing him down the middle of the field.

Heyward ends ‘vacation’

The first day in pads was especially gratifying for defensive end Cam Heyward, who missed the final 12 Notebook games of 2016 with a torn pectoral injury.

“I feel like I’ve been on vacation too long,” Heyward said. “I feel like I want to get hit a little more. I feel like everybody needs to owe me and pick on me. It’s just awesome to be back out there with my teammates.”

Logistical problems

Not only will the Steelers use a new airline for their charter flights this season, they will need more than one plane to do so. And it’s causing a number of annoying logistical problems already.

The Steelers will use Miami Air for nine of its 10 road games, including preseason (they bus to Cleveland), after American Airlines decided to suspend charter flights for six NFL teams,including the Steelers.

But because Miami Air’s charter planes for professional sports teams are in a first-class configuration and have fewer seats, the Steelers will have to take two planes to every game. That will create a problem trying to determine which players, coaches, doctors and staff members willfly on which planes.

The problem will be exacerbated for the two preseason games when the roster sizes will be 90 and 75 players. Ramon Foster, the team’s union player rep, was unaware of thenew arrangement. So was centerMaurkice Pouncey.

“Maybe Ben [Roethlisberger] can rent a plane and take us,” Pouncey said, laughing.

Special visitor

Team president Art Rooney II was leaving Latrobe High School after the end of practice Saturday when he noticed a woman sitting in a golf cart near the team buses, overlooking the field.

Rooney thought he recognized the woman, who looked familiar, but he wasn’t sure. When he got to the top of the hill and got a closer look, he realized it was the wife of the late Arnold Palmer, Kit.

Rooney got out of his car to say hello.

“She said we were in her backyard and she wanted to come over and say hello,” Rooney said.

The high school football field is on the other side of a hill behind the Palmer house, not more than 500 yards away. Palmer, who died in September, 15 days after his 87th birthday, always would try to attend at least one practice at Saint Vincent College each summer.

It was a nice moment for Rooney, who shares a common emotion with Kit Palmer — each is trying to move on after the sudden loss of an iconic figure in their life. Rooney’s dad, Dan, died in April at the age of 84.

“It was a pretty good day,” Rooney said.