Steelers notebook: Harvard alum Aaron Shampklin makes NFL debut; IR players could practice

Aaron Shampklin seemed too preoccupied with his team’s loss — and with any aspect of his play during it that could use improvement — to be able to adequately appreciate his NFL debut.

“Definitely didn’t turn out how I wanted it to, and there’s a lot of stuff I have to work on,” Shampklin said Monday, a day after he was on the field for 19 plays of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss at the Indianapolis Colts. “But definitely great to have the feeling so that now the next game I won’t have those first-game jitters.”

A running back, Shampklin played 13 snaps on offense and six on special teams at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, a day after the Steelers announced he was being elevated from the practice squad.

For a player who went to Harvard, has been cut by four NFL teams over the past two-plus years and whose only prior regular-season pro experience came with the USFL’s Houston Gamblers, making it to the sport’s highest level was no small feat.

“It’s definitely been a journey,” said the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Shampklin, “but every part of it has made me better and helped me learn. Everywhere I have been I feel like has added to my game, and being here is definitely trying to put all the pieces together and still learning and growing as a player.”

Shampklin joined the Steelers via a reserve/future contract in January. He had his moments during training camp but was part of a position group that included three locks for the roster — Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson — as well as a host of others. Shampklin was cut at the end of the preseason, and though he was not part of the initial practice squad, he was signed to it Sept. 4 after an injury to veteran Boston Scott.

With Warren out this week, the Steelers needed another running back to face the Colts. Early last week, coaches told Shampklin and veteran Jonathan Ward one of them would be getting a practice-squad elevation. It ended up Shampklin.

Then when Patterson suffered an ankle injury during the first half, Shampklin was part of the offense in the second half, especially because the Steelers were behind and his duties were more equipped for a third-down role than Harris.

Shampklin had one carry for 5 yards. He also subbed in for Patterson as a kickoff returner, though no kicks were returnable Sunday.

“My journey is definitely different than most, but it’s made me the player I am,” Shampklin said. “So, hopefully, I keep getting better and keep showing that I deserve to be here.”

Other debuts

Defensive back Thomas Grahan Jr. appeared in an NFL game for the first time since 2022. Another practice-squad elevation, Graham played four special-teams snaps.

On the field on offense for the first time as a Steeler was Ryan McCollum. An offensive lineman who got playing time as an undrafted rookie with the Detroit Lions in 2021, McCollum was in uniform for special-teams work for the Steelers’ first three games. In Indianapolis, McCollum got a snap as a jumbo tight end.

Practice is possible

Four players who entered the season on injury lists are eligible to practice this week for the first time during the regular season. Offensive tackle Dylan Cook, outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon and defensive lineman Logan Lee were placed on injured reserve prior to the season opener and are eligible to return this week.

Also eligible to practice this week is inside linebacker Cole Holcomb, who is on the physically unable to perform list because of a serious knee injury suffered last season. Holcomb, however, is not expected to return soon.

Rules require IR players to miss four games. That has happened, so any of those four can return to practice, which opens up a 21-day window during which they must be activated to the roster.

Cook has a foot injury, Moon’s ailment was not disclosed and Lee — a rookie sixth-round pick — has a calf injury.

The Steelers have been hit by injury at outside linebacker and along the offensive line, so Moon and Cook could be of use if they are deemed healthy.