Focus shifts to mandatory minicamp

The voluntary portion of offseason workouts is over for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

What stands between the 90 players on the roster and an extended break is the annual minicamp, which requires mandatory attendance and begins Tuesday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

Before the players disperse until they reconvene July 24 at Saint Vincent, here are five storylines to watch over the next three days: 1. SECOND HELPINGS

Entering his third year and coming off a 1,140-yard season, George Pickens is the unquestioned top receiver on the roster. Since Diontae Johnson was traded to Carolina in March, the Steelers have searched for a viable No. 2.

When Pickens skipped several OTA sessions, the Steelers had to make do at both starting spots and used the occasion to look at some of the veterans signed in free agency as well as rookie third-round pick Roman Wilson and returning slot receiver Calvin Austin III.

With Pickens on hand for minicamp, the Steelers again can focus on the No. 2 spot. Van Jefferson, a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 2020, has the most production with 113 career receptions for 1,600 yards. Scotty Miller has been in the NFL since 2019, Quez Watkins was overshadowed by A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in Philadelphia and former New Orleans Saints receiver Marquez Callaway is trying to rebuild his career after not accumulating any stats in three games last season.

Don’t discount Austin from trying to forge a bigger role in his third season. The wild card is Wilson, who caught 12 touchdown passes and averaged 16.4 yards per catch for last season.

2. WHAT’S LEFT

At the NFL Combine, general manager Omar Khan reiterated that Broderick Jones was drafted to be a left tackle and “eventually, he will be a left tackle.”

The transition hasn’t taken place yet. At OTAs, Jones mostly remained at right tackle, the position where he started 10 games last season. The Steelers have shown no sign of displacing three-year starter Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle.

Moving Jones to the left side is contingent on the development of rookie first-rounder Troy Fautanu at right tackle. Fautanu is making a transition of his own after starting at left tackle in college.

3. FIELDS DAY

Russell Wilson is the starter at quarterback based on how the work has been divided up in spring workouts. The Steelers, though, traded for Justin Fields so they could see how the Chicago Bears’ former first-round pick adapted to their system.

For his part, Fields hasn’t given up on his quest to be a starter, and his role in minicamp will be worth monitoring. With a full complement of skill position players available, Fields can use the three-day session to show his grasp of the offense and state his case to be more than Wilson’s clear-cut backup — and a possible change-of-pace QB — entering training camp.

4. REINFORCEMENTS

Fautanu isn’t the only rookie who will use the next three days to state his case for a larger role.

The Steelers used their second-round pick on West Virginia’s Zach Frazier with the thought he would compete for the starting center job as a rookie. Veteran Nate Herbig, who has limited NFL experience at center, has taken many of the firstteam snaps in spring workouts. Minicamp could provide Frazier a chance to elevate his play into a starting role.

Given the uncertainty at the No. 2 receiver spot, Wilson could emerge as another rookie starter. The rest of the class, however, isn’t being counted on to step into the lineup immediately.

Payton Wilson, the team’s other thirdround pick, is behind Elandon Roberts and Patrick Queen on the depth chart. Payton Wilson can continue to take advantage of the playing time he is afforded because of Cole Holcomb’s ongoing recovery from a leg injury and become a viable third option at inside linebacker.

5. PLAYING THE SLOTS

The return last week of Cam Sutton after a year with the Detroit Lions provides a logical option for the Steelers at the slot cornerback spot.

Sutton had a history of playing multiple roles in the secondary during his first six seasons, and that included the two years in which he was listed as a starting boundary corner.