The Pittsburgh Steelers have stayed away from joint training camp practices of late. The organization prefers to keep everything in house, which is understandable. The team's three preseason games against different colored jerseys should be enough to get the unit ready for the 2023 regular season. The majority of NFL teams, however, like to get together with another franchise or franchises for practices during training camp. As far as the AFC North goes, the most recent joint practice session is going on between the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders. It's safe to say that tensions are riding high between the two teams on Tuesday.
Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8) is driven into the ground by Baltimore Ravens linebacker, Patrick Queen resulting in a concussion for Pittsburgh's signal-caller. | Photo Credit: Fred Vuich / AP
It's always nice to see a team the Steelers have to play twice in a year lacking discipline early on. Football is an intense, competitive sport and all players tend to lose their cool once in a while, but several players were ready to brawl in Owings Mills, Maryland on Tuesday. It began with a wide receiver and a cornerback going at one another.
HEATING UP: Joint practice between the #Commanders and #Ravens gets spicy with some skirmishes
— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) August 15, 2023
Emmanuel Forbes and Tylan Wallace on one field...
Then Ar’Darius Washington with a shove on Cole Turner... Terry McLaurin takes exception#HTTC @JPFinlayNBCS @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/ybnYLW6EAh
Emmanuel Forbes was a cornerback the Steelers showed interest in throughout preparation for the 2023 NFL Draft. He is already showing his fiery side. Tylan Wallace and him went at it after a highly-physical play and that was just the start of a wild sequence of events. Not too long after, tight end, Mark Andrews body-slammed Commanders cornerback, Danny Johnson.
REALLY HEATING UP!#Ravens tight end Mark Andrews body slams #Commanders CB Danny Johnson
— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) August 15, 2023
Shoves and scuffles ensue#HTTC @nbcwashington @JPFinlayNBCS pic.twitter.com/RopNJUbvKz
No one on the Commanders side enjoyed Andrews tossing Johnson to the ground as hard as he did. Discipline seems to be a bit of a question mark for the Steelers divisional rival right now. That has to make Head Coach, Mike Tomlin smile a little bit, right?
Steelers Head Coach, Mike Tomlin smiles aggressively as his players stretch prior to a 2022 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Two Steelers AFC North Foes Already Dealing With On-Field Discipline Issues
The Ravens were one of the least-penalized teams in the league in 2022, but a crucial unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness penalty has the potential to cost any team in a crucial moment. This is not the division's first on-field altercation since training camp began, either. The Cleveland Browns had two scuffles at practice in the final week of July. Cooler heads typically prevail and both of the rivals are showing weaknesses in camp.
While the Steelers have had much going on in terms of confrontations on the field, the team did have the most unnecessary roughness penalties in the AFC North with seven in 2022. That was also tied for the fourth-most in the entire league. Early signs show this may not be the case in 2023 and the script may flip with the Ravens and Browns already showing a lack of control.
Joint practices can be beneficial and can also stir up a bunch of controversy. Fights happen all the time on football fields and physicality is great to display, but the lack of discipline after the whistle blows is not.
Baltimore Ravens tight end and Steelers rival, Mark Andrews (#89) is unable to reel in Lamar Jackson's two-point conversion pass which led to a loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh. | Photo Credit: Justin Berl/ Associated Press
Take the altercations with a grain of salt, but it sure is better for the Ravens and Browns to be showing a lack of discipline on the field rather than the Steelers. Hopefully it comes back to bite the two rivals in the 2023 regular season.
Do you think the fights Ravens players started against the Commanders are a big deal? Let us know in the comments below!
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