Mike Tomlin on Steelers' Training Camp Fight: 'We'll Learn and Grow from That'

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin believes Wednesday's intra-squad fracas can be a learning experience.

A shoving match between members of the offense and defense briefly broke out during training camp.

"There's a lot of lessons to be learned — some formal, some informal," Tomlin said of the situation, per Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein. "We got a little bit less than professional and chippy; an opportunity to teach and learn.

"As much as we hate it, we'll learn and grow from that."

According to ESPN's Brooke Pryor, right tackle Troy Fautanu took exception to how linebacker Elandon Roberts shoved quarterback Justin Fields to the ground. Fautanu ran over and pushed Roberts, and things escalated from there.

Roberts, like Tomlin, thought the confrontation helped to serve a larger purpose.

"You're always supposed to protect your quarterback. I think it's a real good thing," he said, per Pryor. "You even see your mentality of your offense, man protecting the quarterback and stuff like that. And yeah, I'm going to stay away from the quarterback."

Fights during training camp aren't uncommon and typically don't raise cause for concern as long as nobody was hurt. This was far from the first case of friendly fire in this summer alone.

Tomlin has been an NFL head coach since 2007, so he knows the lay of the land in the offseason. Internal strife like this isn't ideal, but there are some positives that can be taken from it.