Not only did the Pittsburgh Steelers draft rookie QB Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, they also took a late seventh round flyer on QB Chris Oladokun. A lot of Steelers fans and NFL analysts questioned the draft choice when it was made. Some fans felt there was no use to double-dip at the quarterback position. Especially, when the team probably could've signed Oladokun as an undrafted free agent. While the Steelers are seemingly in the midst of a three-way battle for the QB1 competition between Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, and Pickett, Oladokun is most likely gearing up for a spot on the team's practice squad.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks participate in Organized Team Activities (OTA's) Thursday May 26, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)
For the entirety of training camp, Oladokun has seemed to be just a camp body, the team's fourth quarterback. The fourth quarterback on an NFL roster is usually a guy trying to make the team's practice squad or show enough during training camp and preseason to get a call from another organization. That can be hard for a guy not getting any real reps during training camp practices and therefore not getting any preseason reps. This obviously could be a methodical approach to make it easier for the Steelers to stash him on the 2022 practice squad.
Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
The Steelers seventh round rookie suited up on Saturday for the preseason opener, but never entered the game. However, Wednesday's practice was a little different for Oladokun. He finally received some reps during the team's training camp practice in Latrobe. Steeler Nation's very own, Brandon James Wallace was on site today, as he always is, delivering updates from camp. Oladokun's patience has finally paid off.
OLADOKUN getting some team reps for the first time all camp I think haha. Good for him. #HereWeGo
— B-Wall (@BWall) August 17, 2022
Oladokun has been handling the lack of practice reps well and just waiting for any kind of opportunity.
“I am just rolling with the punches,” Oladokun said during the first week of training camp via Trib Live. “It’s all part of the plan. [Coaches] are doing a good job of staying with me and letting me develop. I get extra work after practice with [assistant quarterbacks coach David Corley] and go through the script and get all the throws I need."“So, at the end of the day, it’s just about staying locked in and, during practice, getting reps by doing my own, by going through the play when it’s Kenny or Mason or Mitch going," Oladokun continued. "All in all, it can be tough. But for me, it’s about staying locked in, waiting for my opportunity.”
Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Oladokun has taken the opportunity to improve the mental part of the game while watching Trubisky, Pickett, and Rudolph.
“Definitely getting mental reps,” Oladokun stated in the earlier stages of camp. “When those guys are going, I am making sure I am locked in, I know what play we are running, I am going through the reads."
During Wednesday's practice, the Steelers coaching staff apparently were wanting to see if Oladokun had learned from those mental reps. Did he take advantage of his first official "team" reps of training camp?
Chris Oladokun is getting scout team reps. Started out 2/2.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) August 17, 2022
The rookie started out 2/2 on the day, but when he came back in to close out practice, he made a very questionable throw!
Oladokun back in to finish practice with a few more reps. Last play is almost picked off by Robinson who dropped it. It was right to him. #HereWeGo
— B-Wall (@BWall) August 17, 2022
In one of the few "team" reps he got on the day, Oladokun hit fellow rookie LB Mark Robinson right in the chest, but the interception was dropped. It looks to be back to the drawing board for Oladokun, who unfortunately didn't take advantage of his first "team" reps of the 2022 Steelers training camp.
What are yinz thoughts on Oladokun finally getting some reps during Wednesday's training camp practice in Latrobe? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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