Embernate injured, other news from Thursday

Rookie offensive guard Nik Embernate suffered a serious knee injury during Thursday's one-on-one practice drills, getting rolled up by defensive end Cordian Hagans.

Embernate, who had a serious chance to make the roster, immediately grabbed for his knee upon going down and was on the ground for several minutes before being taken from the field on a cart.

A number of veteran players, including Brett Keisel and Maurkice Pouncey, stopped by while drills were continuing - they just moved the drill over while trainers worked on Embernate - to give some words of encouragement to the young man.

@ The Steelers had another physical practice as head coach Mike Tomlin again put the team through live tackling during the team portion of practice on running plays.

It's about trying to establish a mentality with the offensive line and running backs. But it's also about getting a better look at some of the young linemen and defensive front players. Let's face it, they only have 10 padded practices and a couple of preseason games before they have to start making serious decisions.

They want as much tape of these guys as possible.

@ LaMarr Woodley missed all of the team work with a strained calf - read, veteran's day off - giving the team an extended look at Jason Worilds and rookie Jarvis Jones at outside linebacker. Worilds moved across to Woodley's spot and Jones stepped in on the right side.

Worilds got caught up in the wash while making a tackle in the backfield on Isaac Redman and was slow to get up with a toe injury. It later bothered him again during one-on-one drills. But he says he'll be OK.

Jones looked lost at times, perhaps not knowing exactly what to do, but did make a nice J.J. Watt play once again, batting a Ben Roethlisberger pass into the air and intercepting it in the second team portion.

That's twice he's batted balls into the air this week.

@ With Cortez Allen still out, the Steelers' kept William Gay as the nickel corner and put Curtis Brown on the outside.

@ Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger had a nice day hooking up against Josh Victorian, who was in good coverage both times but burned anyway.

On the first, Roethlisberger made a back shoulder throw to Brown down the sideline, with Brown leaping to pull the ball off of Victorian's head.

On the second, Roethlisberger dropped a perfect throw into Brown's hands just beyond Victorian.

Brown looks extra quick this camp. And Roethlisberger looks very sharp.

@ Marcus Gilbert had his best day in one-on-one drills. Mike Adams was solid but needs to get better with his hands.

Ramon Foster has yet to be beaten in a one-on-one.

The surprise of the group as been the play of John Malecki, who seems to have an innate ability to read the defender and react accordingly. He's nothing flashy, just efficient.

@ Fullback Will Johnson made a nice one-handed catch down the sideline in backs vs. backers passing, screening off Chris Carter while hauling in the long pass from Ben Roethlisberger.

@ Rookie Le'Veon Bell continues to impress. He completely turned Marshall McFadden around in a circle in the same drill. Later, however, he couldn't shake Lawrence Timmons, the king of this drill for the linebackers.

Bell did show some nice cutback ability running in the team drills, sidestepping a would-be tackler in the hole and getting upfield for a gain. Later, however, he ran right into the waiting arms of Steve McLendon on a run to the left while looking for a cutback lane.