Steelers get Jalen Ramsey and Max Iheanachor back in practice ahead of Buffalo finale

Pittsburgh is getting two additional bodies back as training camp moves toward the end of the preseason window. Monday morning, Steelers coach Mike McCarthy announced that veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey and rookie offensive tackle Max Iheanachor have returned to practice, a boost for a week the Steelers are using to squeeze in extra work in full pads.

The timing matters because preseason football is where teams try to separate depth-chart hopefuls from the long list of near-misses. With pads on, coaches can more accurately evaluate protection and leverage on offense, and coverage communication, contact balance, and tackling form on defense. McCarthy’s framing of the week points to a deliberate emphasis on maximizing repetitions before the Steelers head to Buffalo.

Ramsey’s presence affects the defensive picture immediately because he is expected to run with the unit as a veteran influence, both in structure and in how quickly a defense can settle after adjustments. Even when the weekly emphasis is on rookies and roster hopefuls, returning a player with Ramsey’s experience can change the tempo of practice and the quality of the reps around him.

Iheanachor’s return is notable on the offensive front. As a rookie offensive tackle, he is in the most evaluation-heavy phase of camp, where coaches look for consistency in stance, foot quickness, and the ability to handle speed and angle without overreaching. A renewed availability during a pads-heavy stretch also gives Pittsburgh a better chance to measure how he performs in live, physical work rather than lighter drills.

McCarthy also connected the return of both players to the team’s broader preparation plan. The Steelers are aiming to “max out” a couple of days in pads before their preseason finale in Buffalo, which underscores that this week’s practices are not filler. They are meant to compress the most informative work into the limited time coaches have between the practice field and the final exhibition game.

For the roster-building process, the message is clear. Pittsburgh has to decide what roles are truly earned, not just what looks good in early-session walkthroughs. With Ramsey and Iheanachor back, the coaches can better identify which competitors can handle physical matchups and execution under pressure, and which players still need refinement before the roster is largely set.

What to watch next is whether the Steelers keep both players in the daily practice rotation through the end of the pads window, and how the team’s practice groups reflect that. If Ramsey and Iheanachor continue to work consistently, the Steelers will likely lean harder into their evaluation of defensive and offensive line communication in full-contact settings heading into Buffalo.