Steelers notebook: Running back, center added to camp roster

Chris Adamski
Monday, Aug. 1, 2016 7:30 p.m. | Monday, Aug. 1, 2016 7:30 p.m.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers safety Sean Davis lays out to tackle running back Cameron Stingily during training camp Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at St. Vincent.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey beats cornerback Artie Burns during training camp Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at St. Vincent.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers receiver Demarcus Ayers pulls in a pass in front of safety Sean Davis during training camp Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at St. Vincent.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers receiver Canaan Severin beats Jordan Dangerfield during training camp Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at St. Vincent.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers fullback Roosevelt Nix makes a one-handed catch during training camp Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at St. Vincent.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers safety Robert Golden breaks up a pass intended for receiver Marcus Tucker during training camp Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at St. Vincent.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers safety Jordan Dangerfield breaks up a pass intended for receiver Eli Rogers during training camp Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at St. Vincent.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers receiver Antonio Brown makes a catch between Shamarko Thomas and Artie Burns during training camp Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at St. Vincent.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell eludes Stephon Tuitt during training camp Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at St. Vincent.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers receiver Antonio Brown pulls away from linebacker Steven Johnson during training camp Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at St. Vincent.

• After three practices of camp, the Steelers swapped out a running back and a center for a different pair of players at the positions. Running back Christian Powell and center Valerian Ume-Ezeoke were signed to the roster; running back Brandon Johnson and center Quinton Schooley were waived/injured. Powell was signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado after the draft but was cut after rookie minicamp. Ume-Ezeokehas spent time with Atlanta and Arizona since going undrafted last year. Schooley did not practice Sunday (knee); Johnson was a former walk-on at Penn State.

• A day after his roommate, safety Shamarko Thomas, missed practice because he was ill, outside linebacker Jarvis Jones sat out Monday, and Thomas returned. Another outside linebacker, James Harrison, was being evaluated after practice for what coach Mike Tomlin said was “a minor ankle” injury. Rookie tight end Mandel Dixon (head injury) also was being evaluated.

• Tomlin is impressed with how running back Brandon Brown-Dukes is transitioning from NCAA Division II to the NFL. Brown-Dukes had 3,804 rushing yards at Mercyhurst. “Let's be honest, (NFL practices) is an adjustment for him where he's coming from, (but) he's not intimidated by it,” Tomlin said. “I like his general competitiveness under the circumstances.”

• The Steelers will wear all-black Color Rush uniforms during their Christmas Day home game against Baltimore. NFL teams last season began wearing specially-designed monochromatic uniforms for Thursday night games. It was initially announced the Steelers would debut theirs on Thanksgiving at Indianapolis.

Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at cadamski@tribweb.com or via Twitter @C_AdamskiTrib.