After the Pittsburgh Steelers reduced their roster to the mandatory 53-player limit Tuesday, they were left thin at some positions and overloaded at others.
A course correction, however, could take place in the upcoming days as the Steelers try to balance their roster before they face the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 8 in the season opener.
The initial roster is heavy in the trenches, with the Steelers carrying nine offensive linemen and eight defensive linemen. Four tight ends made the cut.
On the other hand, the Steelers have just one backup outside linebacker, no fullback and five wide receivers as the roster is presently constituted. The Steelers will make adjustments after the waiver period passes Wednesday.
Among the players to make the initial 53-man roster are center/guard Ryan McCollum, who will serve as the backup to rookie Zach Frazier in the pivot, and safety Jalen Elliott, who was waived in July but re-signed about 10 days into training camp in August.
All of the Steelers’ draft picks survived the cut, except for defensive back Ryan Watts, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve after suffering an injury late in the preseason finale at Detroit. Undrafted free agent Beanie Bishop of West Virginia will serve as the slot cornerback unless the Steelers sign or trade for a veteran following roster cuts. Bishop’s in-house competition was eliminated when the Steelers cut Thomas Graham Jr.
Graham got the first-team snaps in the final two preseason games while Bishop was nursing an injury. He could be brought back on the practice squad.
To get to the 53-man limit, the Steelers released the 18 players: linebackers Kyron Johnson, Luquay Washington, Jacoby Windmon and Marcus Haynes; defensive backs Zyon Gilbert and Graham Jr.; defensive linemen Willington Previlon and Jacob Slade; offensive linemen Tykeem Doss and Joey Fisher; quarterback John Rhys Plumlee; running back Aaron Shampklin; fullback Jack Colletto; tight ends Matt Sokol and Rodney Williams; and wide receivers Jaray Jenkins, Duece Watts and Dez Fitzpatrick. Three veterans had their contracts terminated: wide receiver Quez Watkins and running backs La’Mical Perine and Jonathan Ward. Linebacker Julius Welschof, who was a candidate for the practice squad as part of the International Pathway Program, was placed on injured reserve and will miss the season.
New this season is a rule by which teams can designate two players on injured reserve to return this season after they sit out a mandatory four weeks. Those two players for the Steelers are swing tackle Dylan Cook and outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon.
Inside linebacker Cole Holcomb was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, and he will miss at least four weeks as well. Cornerback Cameron Sutton is expected to be placed on the reserve/suspended list, although that transaction was not announced Tuesday.
Colletto was the only true fullback on the offseason roster. His departure doesn’t necessarily mean the Steelers won’t have a fullback this season. Arthur Smith likes to have use the fullback situationally. The Steelers could add one after they scan the list of free agents available following Tuesday’s transactions.
The following is the Steelers’ initial 53-man roster:
Quarterbacks (3): Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Kyle Allen
Running backs (3): Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Cordarrelle Patterson
Wide receivers (5): George Pickens, Calvin Austin, Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller, Roman Wilson
Tight ends (4): Pat Freiermuth, Connor Heyward, Darnell Washington, MyCole Pruitt
Offensive line (9): Dan Moore Jr., Isaaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, James Daniels, Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Ryan McCollum, Mason McCormick, Spencer Anderson
Defensive line (8): Cameron Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Keeanu Benton, DeMarvin Leal, Montravius Adams, Dean Lowry, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Logan Lee
Inside linebacker (5): Patrick Queen, Elandon Roberts, Payton Wilson, Tyler Matakevich, Mark Robinson
Outside linebacker (3): T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig,
Safety (5): Minkah Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott, Damontae Kazee, Miles Killebrew, Jalen Elliott
Cornerback (5): Joey Porter Jr., Donte Jackson, Cory Trice, Darius Rush, Beanie Bishop
Specialists (3): Chris Boswell, Cameron Johnston, Christian Kuntz
