The shorts and jerseys –- but not much else –- come out of storage this week as the Steelers take the first collective step toward building for the 2018 season.

Phase 3 of the NFL's offseason conditioning program, otherwise known as organized team activities (or OTAs) begin this week. It's the first time teams can have veterans and rookies together on the field.

Although the Steelers will hold 10 practices over the next three weeks, starting Tuesday, the sessions are little more than touch football in shorts. Pads and tackling are excluded, but teams can participate in seven-on-seven, nine-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills.

It's also a chance for teams to install the playbook and implement new schemes or personnel changes.

Like every NFL team, even the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, the Steelers enter OTAs with questions that won't be answered fully until training camp in August. But it's never too early to look at the issues.

Here are five facing the Steelers:

1. What's the dynamic between Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph.

The start of OTAs will be the first time the franchise quarterback and the third-round rookie share the same practice field.

This ordinarily would be no big thing, but Roethlisberger made it an issue when he expressed surprise that the Steelers drafted a quarterback –- and possible heir apparent –- when he said he hoped to play three more seasons. Roethlisberger also couldn't resist needling Rudolph, saying there's no reason to mentor the rookie because "he doesn't need me."

Roethlisberger tried to quiet the brewing controversy when he sent a Rudolph a congratulatory text -– his first interaction with Rudolph -– on the eve of rookie minicamp. The voluntary practices will be another chance for Roethlisberger to welcome Rudolph to the Steelers family even if it's only to placate the media so the story will go away.

On the field, Rudolph will enter OTAs as the fourth quarterback. How many repetitions he receives, and whether they come at the expense of Joshua Dobbs or Landry Jones, will bear watching.

2. Who lines up behind Roethlisberger in the backfield?

Le'Veon Bell won't be around for a second consecutive year as he avoids all team activities while awaiting a possible long-term contract. If one isn't reached by mid-July, Bell probably will skip training camp, too, just like he did last year.

James Conner missed OTAs last year with a hamstring injury. As he prepares for his second season, he's recovering from surgery in December to repair a torn MCL.

Entering the mix is rookie fifth-round pick Jaylen Samuels, a converted tight end from N.C. State. The Steelers also will have two veterans returning in Stevan Ridley and Fitzgerald Toussaint. Ridley, who was signed after Conner's injury in December, was used heavily in the regular-season finale while Bell rested for the playoffs. The Steelers thought enough of him to bring him back on a one-year deal.

3. Who will replace Mike Mitchell at free safety?

Morgan Burnett, who was signed in free agency to provide a veteran presence in the secondary after Mitchell's release, can play the strong and free safety positions. Coach Mike Tomlin indicated that Burnett will get the first chance at free safety.

After an inconsistent second season, strong safety Sean Davis might benefit from a change of scenery and his playing style may be better suited for the free safety position. The wild card is first-round draft pick Terrell Edmunds. How quickly he develops could help decide where –- and how often -– Burnett and Davis are on the field.

Edmunds also has the versatility to play hybrid linebacker in subpackages, and it will be interesting to see where he –- and others –- line up when the Steelers bring in five and six defensive backs.

4. Where will the depth be at linebacker?

The Steelers didn't draft a linebacker –- inside or outside –- after signing Jon Bostic in free agency as the replacement for Ryan Shazier.

The status quo includes special teams ace Tyler Matakevich taking on a bigger role as a backup inside linebacker, and Anthony Chickillo as the lone veteran behind starting outside linebackers Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt.

The start of OTAs will help the Steelers evaluate undrafted free agent Matthew Thomas of Florida State and practice squad holdovers Farrington Huguenin, Keith Kelsey and Matt Galambos.

One player to watch at outside linebacker is Keion Adams, the seventh-round draft pick from 2017 who spent all of last season on injured reserve after undergoing shoulder surgery.

5. Where does Cam Sutton fit in?

The 2017 third-round pick spent the first 12 weeks on injured reserve, but did enough as a depth corner in the final month that the Steelers envision an expanded role for him in 2018.

Starting at OTAs, Sutton can begin his bid to push third-year corner Artie Burns for the starting job opposite Joe Haden. Sutton also can be used in the slot in subpackages, and he has the size to take some snaps at safety.

Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at jrutter@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tribjoerutter.

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