Gradkowski’s injury gives Boyd boost
In the NFL, players never know when an opportunity will come. When it does, careers can hang in the balance.
For first-year quarterback Tahj Boyd, that time is now.
Backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski is on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a shoulder injury and won’t be ready to practice for a while. That leaves plenty of reps for the other reserves in camp, most notably the two players who are battling for the No. 3 job.
Boyd is competing with third-year pro Landry Jones, a former fourthround pick who has struggled in his transition to running an NFL offense.
“I just wanted to come back and build off what I did in the spring,” said Boyd, a former four-year starter at Clemson who was signed to a futures contract in March.
“There were some good things I did in the spring and other things I had to work on a lot. That’s what I’ve been trying to do this summer.
“With Bruce being out, it leaves the door open. I want to continue that and show I’m improving every day. If I can do that and gain their trust, who knows what can happen?”
The New York Jets drafted Boyd in the sixth round in the spring of 2014, but he was cut in August. He spent the 2014 season out of pro football awaiting another opportunity.
The Steelers were looking for some competition for Jones when they signed Boyd, who set Clemson records for most passing touchdowns and yards in a career. The Jets elected to keep veteran Michael Vick and Matthew Simms as their backups behind Geno Smith.
With an entire offseason with the Steelers, Boyd feels better prepared for his second shot at an NFL roster.
“For me, it’s all about how quickly I can grasp the offense,” Boyd said.
“That’s what playing quarterback is, how quickly can you grasp a concept? Everybody can play at this level. Everyone at this level can throw, can run. Now, it’s time for me to take that part of it and add it to mental side of it and grow from there. I’m looking forward to the opportunity.
“I think I have a real chance. In the NFL, it’s more or less opportunities, timing and being in the right place at the right time. The organization is great, unbelievable coaching staff. Hopefully, I can stick here and be here for a while.”
Ventrone injured
Verteran defensive back Ross Ventrone, elevated to the active roster for nine games in 2014, left practice after a lower leg injury.
Rookie receiver Eli Rogers laid out for a pass and caved in Ventrone’s right knee. He got up to his feet but needed assistance from trainers to leave the field.
Rookie tight end Cameron Clear also had to leave practice with a heat-related illness. The heat index on the field was 112.
Coach Mike Tomlin did not have an update after practice on either player.
Quick hits
• Tomlin continued to give some veterans days off. Tight end Matt Spaeth joined James Harrison and Will Allen on the sideline Monday.
“Why wait until it sets in before you start the process of taking care of guys,” Tomlin said. “We’ll rotate them through and provide more opportunities for young guys like Jess James, and, at the same time, preserve some guys who have been around and know what’s going on.”
• Ben Roethlisberger was asked about the NFL’s new guidelines on inflation levels of footballs in the wake of Deflategate.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Roethlisberger said. “I don’t know what our PSI is. As long as it’s within regulations, I’m fine with it.”
• The defense won the goal-line drill for the second consecutive practice. When the first-team offense went up against the first-team defense, Cortez Allen intercepted Roethlisberger when he jumped a short route intended for Martavis Bryant. When the second-team offense went against the second-team defense, rookie cornerback Doran Grant intercepted Jones.
The only offensive touchdown came when Jones threw one to Darrius Heyward-Bey at the pylon.