Steelers head into roster deadline with 77 players, 24 moves left
The Pittsburgh Steelers continued their preseason roster reductions this week as they move toward the NFL-mandated 53-player limit ahead of the regular season. By Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern, the Steelers — like every other NFL club — must pare their roster to 53 active players. The organization carried 77 players on the roster after Friday's wave of moves, leaving 24 cuts or transactions remaining before the deadline.
In a move that caught some observers off guard, the team traded veteran offensive tackle Broderick Jones to the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday evening. The transaction followed an initial release of 11 players announced Friday night and several additional roster adjustments over the weekend.
"By Sunday at 6 PM/EST, the Pittsburgh Steelers and rest of the NFL must trim their rosters down to a 53-man group."
Who was moved or released
The initial post-Friday wave included 11 releases and a handful of signings and claims that left several young players fighting for roster spots. The public list of players cut or otherwise moved includes:
- RB Alex Tecza
- WR Jakobie Keeney-James
- WR Isaiah Winstead
- WR Cornell Powell
- WR Levi Wentz
- TE Jaheim Bell
- C Greg Crippen
- OT Broderick Jones (traded to Cowboys)
- EDGE Jamin Davis
- CB Jaylon Guilbeau
- S Jack Henderson
- CB Brandon Hill
- CB Tamon Lynum
- CB Daryl Porter
Several of those players were development or depth prospects who saw limited snaps in preseason. The Steelers also added and evaluated players late in training camp, making roster decisions especially difficult for players who were signed shortly before the preseason finale.
Context: injured reserve rules and practice squad considerations
Under current NFL roster rules the Steelers are allowed to designate up to two players directly to injured reserve at the time of cutdowns. Those designated players must miss at least the first four regular-season games, and they count toward the team's allotment of eight players eligible "to return" from injured reserve during the season. The club must weigh those designations when finalizing the 53-man roster.
Several players released in the initial round are candidates for the practice squad if they clear waivers. For example, center Greg Crippen worked his way from a rookie tryout into a contract and spent the summer practicing with the team. He showed enough to hold his own as a third-team center but likely lacked the size and strength to make the active roster, a scenario that would make him a frequent practice-squad consideration if the team needs depth at center during the season.
Preseason performance and roster battles
Depth players faced uphill battles during camp and preseason action. Tight end Jaheim Bell, who had been with the Steelers since the spring, finished the preseason with three catches for seven yards and struggled as both a pass-catcher and blocker. One notable moment came in the preseason finale when he dropped a pass from Drew Allar in the final seconds of the game against the New York Jets.
Wide receivers added later in camp, including Jakobie Keeney-James, had limited opportunities to establish chemistry with the starting offense. In the preseason, Keeney-James caught one pass on seven targets and arrived midway through training camp, making it a steep climb to unseat established players.
| Roster count | Remaining cuts/moves |
|---|---|
| 77 | 24 |
The initial 53-man group the Steelers submit by Sunday can change between now and the regular-season opener, either through transactions or injury designations. The team must balance short-term roster needs with development plans for younger players and the potential to retain depth via the practice squad.
As cutdown day approaches, Steelers fans in Pittsburgh will be watching the official transaction log closely for the final composition of the roster and any additional surprises in trades or designations that could alter the team's plans heading into the season.
