Early Sunday, tackle Max Starks opined about his return to the practice field after opening training camp on the PUP list. By the end of the afternoon practice, two other players on the Steelers offensive line were on the sidelines with their own ailments.
Trai Essex and David DeCastro left practice early with what coach Mike Tomlin described as "minor" ankle injuries. Tomlin sounded hopeful each would be fine in time for Pittsburgh's next workout Tuesday.
DeCastro was the Steelers' first-round pick, and he opened camp running with the second team at right guard. It's widely assumed that DeCastro will wrest the starting job away from Ramon Foster by the regular-season opener, but Foster has been solid thus far in camp.
Essex has been with the first-team offense at left tackle, but he is largely a placeholder until Starks returns to active duty or rookie Mike Adams asserts himself as ready for the job. Starks tore an ACL during the Steelers' January playoff loss in Denver (has no set timetable for a return), and Adams was the team's second-round draft pick three months later.
"Our whole offensive line is looking good right now," said Starks, who has been on the field watching every practice when he's not working out on his own. "I haven't seen any issues in terms of technique or anything. Everyone's starting to get on the same page and looking pretty solid."
Perhaps the most impressive lineman so far has been Willie Colon. A tackle since he entered the league, Colon was moved to left guard. His feisty, aggressive play has stood out in each practice.
"Personally, I feel in debt to this team," said Colon, who has been limited to one game the past two seasons due to injury. "I feel in debt to the Rooneys, I feel in debt to the O-Line coach and coach Tomlin, (so) I have to come out here everyday and put my best food forward and play as hard as I can."
Follow Steelers reporter Chris Adamski on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLPIT and @BuzzsawPGH.