As of 2:40 PM ET, the Pittsburgh Steelers have moved their practice indoors due to inclement weather, and the session is now closed to the public. Originally set for their first padded training camp practice, the players will have to wait until the following day to don their pads, as they cannot engage in full-contact drills on the hard surface of the indoor facility.
The anticipated practice faced a significant delay as lightning strikes were reported in the area, forcing the evacuation of both the field and bleachers. Players and staff were on standby as they awaited updates. According to Missi Matthews on Training Camp Live via Steelers.com, the team was instructed to hold off until at least 2:30 PM, but this timeline could be extended with each additional lightning strike.
In the midst of the delay, Tim Rice shared a clip from the merchandise tent, showcasing the atmosphere as fans waited for the storm to pass. Meanwhile, DVE’s Mike Prisuta reported on the torrential downpour and expressed concerns that today’s practice might be canceled altogether. The National Weather Service indicated a relatively low chance of storms, but the unpredictable nature of the current weather conditions, coupled with high humidity, kept everyone on edge.
If practice were to be canceled, it is common for the Steelers to relocate indoors; however, the indoor surface is not conducive to full-contact practice. Consequently, this would push back the team’s first padded practice to the following day. In a positive development for the future, Saint Vincent College is currently constructing a new indoor facility that will better accommodate the team during inclement weather situations.
This is not the first time this training camp that the Steelers have grappled with weather-related interruptions; however, previous weather issues were minor and only slightly cut short the end of practices. Today marks the first significant delay, highlighting the challenges the Steelers face as they prepare for the upcoming season.
