MMA CAMP - Veteran Delivers Vicious Hit to Rookie RB Johnson’s Head, McCormick Immediately Strikes Back
Things got chippy in Latrobe on Wednesday afternoon, and one hit turned a quiet practice into an all-out scrum.
During a non-tackling period of team drills, a defensive lineman delivered a hard shot that sent rookie running back Kaleb Johnson to the ground — a hit that clearly crossed the line during what was supposed to be a low-contact session. What happened next? Chaos.
Offensive players swarmed in. Punches were thrown. Helmets ripped off. It didn’t take long for the entire team to be tangled in one of the biggest scuffles of training camp so far.
The man who laid the hit? Esezi Otomewo.
And the player who responded the fastest? Mason McCormick, the second-year guard who has quickly earned a reputation as a physical tone-setter on offense.
“We’re gonna protect the quarterback — and our guys — always,” McCormick told reporters after practice.
“If you hit someone when you’re not supposed to, don’t be surprised if we hit back.”
The Steelers have seen their share of training camp fights over the years, and while Mike Tomlin never encourages them, he’s realistic about the intensity that builds during August.
“This isn’t MMA camp,” Tomlin reportedly told the team afterward.
“We’re here to compete, not brawl. You wanna hit somebody? Saturday’s coming.”
Otomewo had missed time earlier in camp due to injury and is likely trying to make up for lost reps — perhaps pushing a bit too far in his effort to stand out. The coaching staff pulled him aside after the incident, and order was quickly restored.
Still, the moment lit a fire under the offense. Cam Heyward and other vets have long talked about the value of these dustups — as long as they don’t derail focus.
With the team heading into its first preseason game this Saturday against Jacksonville, many see the fight as a turning point — a sign that camp intensity has officially hit its peak.
If there’s a lesson here, it’s this: don’t mess with Pittsburgh’s rookies. Especially when Mason McCormick is on the field.
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