(TNS) — By losing nine starters and 16 players overall from the active roster for the January wild-card playoff loss at Baltimore, the Pittsburgh Steelers embraced the change that was expected after yet another first-round postseason exit.

How quickly the revamped roster jells will be a theme of training camp, which begins Thursday at Saint Vincent College in Unity Township. It will carry through the three-game preseason before the ultimate test arrives Sept. 7 with the season opener against the New York Jets.

A team with that much turnover will face a seemingly endless number of issues that will need to be addressed before the season starts. Here are six — one for each Lombardi Trophy in the case — that will bear monitoring over the course of the team’s stay at Saint Vincent:

1. Aaron Rodgers’ reps

The 41-year-old, four-time NFL MVP and former Super Bowl champion undoubtedly will be the center of attention during training camp. The question is, how much visibility will Rodgers have on the grass surfaces at Chuck Noll Field.

Rodgers didn’t sign until the eve of minicamp, so he had only three days to work with his teammates in the spring. He has some catching up to do in training camp even if he did invite some of the skill position players to his offseason home in Malibu, Calif., for a private workout.

The Steelers, though, likely won’t want Rodgers to overdo it at this advanced age of his career. Remember that in the twilight of Ben Roethlisberger’s career, he would practice in full one day, do a half practice session the next and take off the third day. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Rodgers follow a similar regimen.

2. Strength in numbers

The trade for Jalen Ramsey gives the Steelers three viable options for two outside cornerback spots. Somebody is going to have to move around, and the logical choice is Ramsey.

The Steelers acquired Ramsey with the thought that he also could play in the slot or at free safety, where an opening was created when Minkah Fitzpatrick was shipped to Miami in the deal. Juan Thornhill, signed in free agency, could factor into the free safety mix as well.

Training camp is the time to experiment, and how the Steelers deploy their cornerbacks will be the biggest question on defense.

3. Who’s No. 2?

For the second summer in a row, the Steelers will be auditioning players to be the No. 2 wide receiver. The Steelers never adequately filled the spot last season, and it looked like the problem was solved with the trade that brought DK Metcalf to the organization. Then, the Steelers shipped problematic receiver George Pickens to Dallas after the draft, creating another void at wideout.

Roman Wilson will get his shot after missing almost all his rookie season because of injuries. Calvin Austin will try to prove he’s more than a No. 3 option. Robert Woods was signed in free agency.

The answer, though, could come from another position. Jonnu Smith came to the Steelers as part of the Ramsey deal, and the veteran tight end could be used at a receiver spot. Smith has the versatility to play multiple spots on the field, and he has a lengthy history with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

4. Tackle two-step

After two years developing at right tackle, Broderick Jones will get his chance to start on the left side — his natural position. It will be the payoff for the Steelers trading up four spots to select Georgia’s Jones at No. 14 overall in the 2023 draft.

The following year, the Steelers addressed the other tackle spot by taking Washington’s Troy Fautanu in the first round. He did well enough in his rookie training camp to surpass Jones on the depth chart at right tackle, and he started ahead of Jones in Week 2 at Denver.

A knee injury, however, cut Fautanu’s rookie season short after just that one game. He is healthy and will man right tackle, giving the Steelers a pair of young bookends on the line.

Aside from bringing back swing tackle Calvin Anderson, the Steelers didn’t address tackle in the offseason. Which means they have faith in Jones at left tackle and Fautanu at right.

5. Physical up front

After watching the Baltimore Ravens push around the defense to the tune of 299 rushing yards in the wild-card round of the playoffs, the Steelers realized the need to get more physical on the defensive line.

A first-round pick was spent on Oregon’s Derrick Harmon, and his position coach already projected a starting spot for the rookie. The Steelers doubled up on the defensive line in the draft, taking Iowa’s Yahya Black in the fifth round. He may not contribute right away, but Black will push some of the other linemen for playing time.

Cameron Heyward returns for a 15th season, and the Steelers are counting on former second-round pick Keeanu Benton blossoming in his third season.

6. Getting the boot

One legitimate competition to watch in camp and the preseason is at punter, where the Steelers have two veteran candidates vying for the starting job.

If healthy, the job likely is Cameron Johnston’s to lose. The Steelers gave Johnston a three-year, $9 million contract in the 2024 free agency after finally parting ways with Pressley Harvin III. His inaugural season with the Steelers, however, lasted just two punts and less than one full game.

A shattered knee sustained in the season opener ended Johnston’s season, and the Steelers brought in Corliss Waitman to finish the year. Waitman had a net average of 41.4 yards per punt, which put him in the middle of the pack among his NFL peers. By comparison, Johnston’s career net average is 42.2 yards.

Waitman provides a solid insurance policy in the event Johnston doesn’t return to form.