Analysis: Breaking down who stayed and who went as the Steelers made their mandatory final roster cuts

Via a 4:30 p.m. Tuesday social media post by the team, the Pittsburgh Steelers initial 53-man roster was revealed.

Remember, though, that it is all but guaranteed that the 53 players who survived Tuesday’s NFL cut deadline will not match the 53-man roster come Sept. 7 when the regular season opens. And that doesn’t even account for the 16-man practice squad, which will be assembled shortly.

The injured reserve list will play a role in further shaping the roster, as will possible trades and waiver claims from other organizations.

But, for the moment, all we have is the initial list of 53. As such, a look at how those “on the bubble” fared:

Quarterbacks

Notable names who made it: Skylar Thompson, Will Howard

Notable names who didn’t: N/A

This appears temporary and that Howard will go on IR. Though it is an extreme longshot he will end up the Steelers’ QB of the future, it seemingly would behoove the organization to foster whatever they have in him via development and practice reps.

That said, management couldn’t take that chance in 2025 after he missed the final three weeks of training camp and the preseason because of a finger injury. Thompson, meanwhile, took off. Coincidence or not, after Howard’s injury Thompson turned around what had been a shaky start to camp.

Running backs

Notable names who made it: N/A

Notable names who didn’t: Trey Sermon, Lew Nichols

There were no surprises here. Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell and Kaleb Johnson weren’t getting cut. There probably wasn’t any room for anyone else, regardless of what they did. Sermon is a veteran who had a good enough camp he could be added to the practice squad. Nichols showed some splash, as well, as a developmental candidate.

Wide receivers

Notable name who made it: Scotty Miller

Notable names who didn’t: Robert Woods, Brandon Johnson

Four WR spots were all but assured: DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek. That left 1-2 spots for the field. Woods was given a $745,000 bonus in May, but he was thoroughly outplayed by Miller in practices and games. Simple as that.

Johnson and undrafted rookies Max Hurleman and Ke’Shawn Williams were the last men standing if the Steelers kept six receivers. Each had his moments over the past month. Johnson suffered a right foot injury in the preseason finale.

Tight ends

Notable name who made it: Connor Heyward

Notable names who didn’t: N/A

There wasn’t too much drama here. Heyward was a 99% lock. He led the Steelers in special-teams snaps last season, and he’s fullback-capable. It would have been shocking if he was an odd man out, even after the acquisition of Jonnu Smith.

Undrafted rookie JJ Galbreath popped, at times, during camp but never really had a chance.

Offensive linemen

Notable names who made it: Andrus Peat, Ryan McCollum, Calvin Anderson

Notable names who didn’t: Dylan Cook, Max Scharping

As Peat had been two weeks into camp, there could be further reinforcements from the outside yet to come. Cook (2023) and Scharping (2024) are former full-season backups for the Steelers. Peat, a three-time Pro Bowler, made at least one expendable. Ryan McCollum is the second-best pure center in the organization. Anderson was re-signed after appearing in five games last season, but earning the top backup tackle role was in question after he sat out a sizable part of camp because of injury.

Defensive linemen

Notable names who made it: Esezi Otomewo, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Logan Lee, Yahya Black

Notable names who didn’t: N/A

Few among this group played himself off the roster. To varying degrees, Otomewo, Loudermilk, Lee and Black were expected to make the team, but each did enough to show he deserved it. It seems crazy now after the standout camp he had, but it was not out of the question when the summer began that Black, a fifth-round pick, could get cut. Lee and free-agent signee Otomewo weren’t as stellar as Black, but each made plays at times. Loudermilk in March was brought back for a fifth year with the Steelers. He is a nice, steady depth piece.

Linebackers

Notable names who made it: Carson Bruener, Cole Holcomb

Notable name who didn’t: DeMarvin Leal, Mark Robinson

Bruener made the team because the Steelers believe he can be a special-teams ace. His inclusion was at the expense of Robinson, who was a core ‘teamer each of the past two seasons. The only question about Holcomb was if he could prove he completely recovered from his 2023 serious knee injury. That he did makes him one of the best backup inside linebackers in the NFL.

This summer was one last shot by the Steelers to squeeze what they could out of Leal’s vast potential. A move from the defensive line to outside linebacker didn’t prove fruitful enough.

Defensive backs

Notable names who made it: CB/PR Donte Kent

Notable names who didn’t: S Chuck Clark, CB James Pierre, CB Cory Trice (IR)

Five of the eight who made the initial roster were acquired over the past 51/2 months. Clark is another such player and could be added if Kent is placed on IR. That is possible after Kent, a seventh-round pick, sat out three weeks because of an ankle injury.

Trice is on IR for the third time in three pro seasons, but the Steelers still believe he can be a significant contributor when healthy. Since 2020, Pierre has played in more games than anyone for the Steelers (81). He might stick on the practice squad.

Specialists

Notable names who made it: P Corliss Waitman, LS Christian Kuntz

Notable names who didn’t: P Cameron Johnston, K Ben Sauls

Waitman-vs.-Johnston was the only “starting” position battle of camp. The irony of the Steelers choosing Waitman now is that had they done so when he was clearly the superior punter to Pressley Harvin III late in the 2021 season, they could have saved themselves two full years of Harvin’s below-the-line punting.

Kuntz’s inclusion was noteworthy only because he suffered a painful chest injury during the second preseason game, and his availability for the season opener was — and still might be — in question.