PITTSBURGH As Cameron Sutton and Steven Nelson started to share a locker room this spring, the veteran cornerback noticed the crystals in the younger defensive backs locker.

I'm very into it, Nelson said. I know exactly what that is. It's spirituality.

The two cornerbacks quickly formed a bond that's continued into the thick of the season. Their conversations cover the types of soaps they use, gum they chew and their decision not to eat red meat or pork.

But the crystals came early on. And as the slightly younger Sutton pulls through a 2019 season with a changed, though increasingly prominent role in the team, he continues to do so with a regular practice of crystal healing.

They all serve their own purpose, you know what I mean, Sutton said. Obviously it's coming from nature's greatest.

Sutton and Nelson, among plenty of others, believe that proximity to certain rocks and minerals can help with ones day-to-day disposition, energy levels and focus, among other attributes, plenty of which are widely open to the individuals interpretation.

And while the size of the the crystals varies greatly, the Steelers defensive back notes that cultures in different parts of the world believe in the ability of different stones to aid people in their daily lives. His girlfriend, Courtney Alexander, told him about the practice years ago. Shes better-read on the subject than Sutton is, he said, and handcrafts bracelets and jewelry with the stones.

Throughout the week of practice leading up to a game, Sutton will pick out a stone for a purpose for each day. And, if at the end of the week, the Steelers are traveling, Sutton will pack four or five, plus a hand-held dream catcher to bring with him.

Certain stones have very specific purposes, whereas others are more open to the needs of whoevers around them.

The approximately 10-inch tall selenite crystal that was in Suttons locker last week, he explained, is an energy stone, bringing positivity and clarity. Though there are different meanings, those are the base readings, he said.

It's really cool obviously to see the benefits that they put out and obviously in return the benefits you reap from that, Sutton said. I think it's something that obviously you don't' force on anybody. People ask about it and then obviously it brings attention and curiosity to some people.

But obviously there's a few people that keep up with those things too.

Nelson is the most direct supporter of the practice, but when the Steelers travel, Sutton does charge the crystals in the light of the hotel room window, moving a table over and placing the rocks there to absorb the light of the sun and the moon.

His weekend roommates dont mind. Sutton shares a room with Artie Burns on the road. Joshua Dobbs roomed with Sutton before he was traded in Week 2, and he had no issue with the practice, either.

If there's no window, Sutton will take the crystals outside. Between uses he and his girlfriend clean and charge them. They charged them all up at the last full moon.

A lot of people don't really, you know, they see crystals, they don't think about it, Nelson said. They just think it's a rock. But it has meaning.

The crystals are part of the same diet, exercise and health product discussions Nelson and Sutton share.

It works for Sutton. He used to buy his stones at Journeys of Life in Shadyside before it shut down. He still looks for shops that sell them whenever he travels with his girlfriend.

On Friday, as the Steelers neared the end of their preparation for their first game since Sutton shined with a clinch interception against the Los Angeles Chargers, he explained the powers of citrine. It provides clarity, love and energy.

They're reasons why it's a regular in Sutton's rotation of rocks.

It's kind of just what you want out of those stones, what those stones define in how you're feeling, he said. And like I said that's something else that's manifested and you can bring that out and carry with you.

Sutton, like a lot of the youngest Steelers, still lives on South Side just a few minutes away from the team's headquarters. He and his girlfriend have talked about moving North or into some suburb of Pittsburgh, but he's in Year 3 of a four-year rookie contract, carving out a role playing a specific slot corner position all but exclusively on passing downs.

There's little point in moving out and buying up.

Still, Sutton feels a benefit from stones. That sensation isn't isolated to those he carries with them as he's feeling whatever lift he's getting on a given day. But he knows, he said, and that's enough.

It could be lucky socks. It could be 'Hey I wear these lucky socks, manifest a good game, manifest, making plays, manifest, you know, certain things that guys have that they can carry with them, Sutton said. It's not really a pinpoint thing.

Its something that they use. It keeps you motivated.

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Steelers CB Cameron Sutton powers on (in part) aided by his crystal collection with support of Steven Nelson, - PennLive