Steelers 2-a-days: P Pressley Harvin III seeks consistency, C/G J.C. Hassenauer a top backup role

Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2022 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, two per day, between June 11 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

P PRESSLEY HARVIN III

Experience: 2^nd season

Contract status: $845,184 cap hit in 2022, signed through 2024

2022 outlook: Among the 34 NFL punters who had at least 20 boots last season, Harvin’s gross average (42.6) ranked 32^nd. He was 34^th in net average (38.0). Still, the Steelers stuck with Harvin: first, by letting him keep his job during the playoff game at Kansas City in January, then by letting the man who had been outperforming him leave.

The Steelers showed they still believe in Harvin, who they made the rare decision to invest a draft pick into for a punter last year. They certainly expected better results in return on that investment. And at times, Harvin showed off his booming leg via long punts. But far too many other times, he’d either hit one off the side of his foot or otherwise shank a punt out of bounds.

Through it all, coach Mike Tomlin repeatedly complimented Harvin for his skills on holds. And the team stood by him, too, after his father died on Christmas morning. Harvin missed the next two games, during which time his grandmother passed away as well.

In his stead, Corliss Waitman shined (52.1-yard gross, 42.6-yard net averages) in his first NFL regular-season action. Some fans wanted the Steelers stick with Waitman in the playoffs, but Tomlin turned back to Harvin. They then allowed Waitman to leave after the season ended (he joined the Denver Broncos).

But that doesn’t mean Harvin will be without competition at next month’s training camp. Cameron Nizialek was signed after punting in four games for the Atlanta Falcons last season.

Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III looking back and evaluating his rookie season pic.twitter.com/3mVJWggr74

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) January 20, 2022

C/G J.C. HASSENAUER

Experience: 28 games in 2020-21 for the Steelers, his only regular-season action since entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2018

Contract status: $895,000 cap hit in 2022, after which scheduled for restricted free agency

2022 outlook: Hassenauer has been with the Steelers for so long, it was three spring pro leagues ago that he’s played for upon initially signing with them. Hassenauer impressed the organization via his play in the Alliance of American Football, a league that folded before its first season completed in 2019. But aside from a little bit of unemployed down time that fall, Hassenauer has stuck with the Steelers ever since.

Including the January playoff game in Kansas City, he’s made eight NFL starts — five at center and three at left guard. Lost in the shuffle in college among the over-talented roster at Alabama, Hassenauer was mostly a backup in the SEC. And while he’s still mostly a backup now, he’s proven to be NFL-caliber when he’s filled in. Hassenauer spent all of 2021 on the active roster (aside from injury or covid-19).

After the addition of free agents James Daniels and Mason Cole to start on the interior of the offensive line, the resulting trickle-down effect on the depth chart means nothing is guaranteed for Hassenauer in terms of the 53-man roster in 2022. But even if he’s on the bubble for that, a practice-squad spot is seemingly assured.

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