The Pittsburgh Steelers made a somewhat surprising move late last week when they decided to bring in former Baltimore Ravens safety Chuck Clark.
The decision to do so made some question if free agent acquisition Juan Thornhill was suddenly in the middle of a camp battle when it comes to who starts at safety.
Omar Khan took time to explain the decision...
Omar Khan views Chuck Clark as core teamer, competition
"The other component of it is, he's been a core teamer when he's had to. And I think that helps his situation here," Khan told the Steelers audio network. We just need him to come in and compete. Obviously, we traded Minkah [Fitzpatrick], and we like the guys that we have. We like having competition. So, he was out there, and he was interested. It just makes sense."
One thing you can be sure of at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp: competition. Sure, Juan Thornhill is now thrust into a role where he's asked to replace Minkah Fitzpatrick. A tall task even if Fitzpatrick wasn't the same player in 2023 and 2024 that he was from 2019 through 2022. But the Steelers don't just award starting spots, and certainly not to newcomers like Thornhill.
Starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers is a privilege, and you have to earn the right to be one of the 22 on any given Sunday. That's what this signing signifies. And I'll tell you this much, crazier underdogs have come out on top of camp battles. Chuck Clark may have been signed to be a core special teamer, but the Steelers won't be shy about making him a starter if Thornhill doesn't produce.
He's put a target on his back after all, vocally calling out his former team (Cleveland Browns) and defending Minkah Fitzpatrick while doing so by saying his lack of production in the box score doesn't match the film.
We'll see if he's right, and firstly, if he can make sure Chuck Clark stays on special teams.
