Dupree stays in his lane

Rookie first-round pick Bud Dupree followed James Harrison on Twitter before the Steelers selected him in the draft. As a college player he was a fan of the workout videos Harrison puts out on social media.

But Dupree doesn’t dare go near Harrison when the outside linebackers are in the weight room at the same time. Harrison was among the first Steelers to call Dupree and welcome him to the team, but the 22-year old rookie hasn’t worked up the gumption to approach him when he’s leg pressing 1,000 pounds or bench pressing 500.

“He works out by himself,” Dupree said. “We don’t go over there. It took a while for him to be like that. It’ll take a while for anybody else to get that way, too. He’s in his own lane. I just try to stay in mine.”

*A couple of former major-college quarterbacks are trying to make the transition to NFL receivers with the Steelers, and early on they’ve caught the eye of at least one established veteran.

Former Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner and former Florida and Boston College quarterback Tyler Murphy are taking part in OTAs and minicamp with the Steelers this spring as undrafted free agents.

Third-year receiver Markus Wheaton has been impressed with their versatility.

“They actually look really good. Their hands are good. The routes are very good. I think quarterbacks have the best hands on the team. I think it shows off out here.Hopefully, they can make that transition. We’d like to have them with us.”

*The best news for the Steelers from the first week of OTAS? They didn’t get anyone hurt.

Another season-ending injury to a Pro Bowl player took place on Thursday. Denver left tackle Ryan Clady tore the ACL in his left knee and will miss the 2015 season. That’s a devastating blow for a team that is in win-now mode.

It’s not the first offseason injury during the voluntary workout portion of the offseason. New York Giants tackle Will Beatty tore his pectoral muscle earlier this month when he was lifting weights at the team’s facility.

And, of course, the biggest offseason injury occurred during rookie minicamp when Dante Fowler, the No. 2 overall draft choice, tore his knee ligaments in his first practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

NFL coaches wanted more time with their players during the offseason, but that time sometimes comes with a cost.

*Want to get the autographs of the seven former NFL players who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? All a ticket to Monday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015 Autograph Session (presented by Panini, of course, because nothing can go without sponsorship anymore) will set you back is $375.

Not enough to make you get in the car and drive two hours? Did I mention you also get admittance to the hall of fame for the day?