The Pittsburgh Steelers hit fans with a quick hit of offseason energy Wednesday morning. Their official account posted a carousel of practice shots with one simple caption: “Movin & groovin.” The photos landed right in the middle of the team’s 2026 OTAs window and gave everyone a clear look at the work happening on the fields.
Three images. Three different drills. One clear message — the players are locked in and the operation is running smooth.
Will Howard #18 Looks Sharp in the Pocket
The first frame shows Will Howard #18 in full dropback. White practice jersey with yellow sleeves, black helmet, football loaded in his right hand. His eyes are downfield and his base looks balanced. The 6-foot-4, 236-pound quarterback out of Ohio State is in his second year and these reps matter.
Howard has spent the spring and early summer trying to build timing with the receiving group. Every clean throw in these non-padded sessions helps. You can see the arm talent and the footwork foundation he brought from college. The ball comes out with zip when he steps into it. That kind of detail shows up later when the pads come on and the coverage tightens.
Asante Samuel Jr. #22 Attacks the Footwork
The bottom right shot features Asante Samuel Jr. #22. The veteran cornerback is in a yellow vest, ball in his right hand, knees pumping through what looks like an agility ladder or cone drill. His movement is light and his eyes stay up. At 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, Samuel Jr. has always relied on quick feet and instincts. These early summer sessions are where he stays sharp before the real physical work begins in training camp.
Cornerbacks live and die by their technique in OTAs. Samuel Jr. knows the drill. Every rep now reduces the margin for error when September hits and wideouts start running full speed.
The Third Frame Shows the Full Effort
The top right photo catches another player fully extended on a blocking or receiving apparatus. Arms high, body leaned in, the kind of explosive finish that coaches love to see. It is the kind of detail work that separates good practices from great ones. No one is just going through the motions.
Why These Photos Matter Right Now
OTAs are not about glory. They are about installation, timing, and habits. The Steelers still have a couple of sessions left before the final one on June 12. Then the team gets a short break before training camp opens in Latrobe. These photos serve as a progress report.
Will Howard needs every meaningful rep he can get with the first-team offense. Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph bring experience, but the young quarterback is fighting to carve out a bigger role. The more comfortable he looks in these settings, the better the passing game can develop before the pads come on.
On the other side of the ball, Samuel Jr. is part of a secondary that must stay connected. Veteran corners set the tone in these workouts. When they move with purpose, the whole group follows.
Read More: Steelers OTAs Update: Will Howard’s Athleticism Shows Up in Latest Practice Photos
The “Movin & groovin” vibe is real. You can feel the rhythm in the photos. Players are communicating, coaches are teaching, and the operation looks organized. That matters more than any single highlight throw.
What Fans Should Take From This
Steelers fans have seen plenty of these quiet June posts over the years. They rarely go viral, but they always tell the same story. The team is building something in plain sight. The chemistry, the footwork, the little details — they all start here.
Training camp will bring the hitting and the roster battles. Right now the focus is on staying healthy and getting the calls down cold. The photos the team dropped Wednesday capture exactly that phase.
Will Howard is throwing with confidence. Asante Samuel Jr. is moving with purpose. The rest of the squad is right there with them. That is what “Movin & groovin” looks like when the 2026 season is still months away but the work has already started.
