Steelers sign 4 players from rookie tryout camp, including Wake Forest kicker Nick Sciba

Four players from the recently concluded rookie minicamp earned summer jobs with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’ll get a chance to extend their stay by proving their worth on the practice field.

The Steelers signed four players who attended rookie minicamp on a tryout basis: defensive tackle Trevon Mason, cornerback Carlins Platel, wide receiver Tyler Snead and kicker Nick Sciba. They will be on hand for organized team activities that begin May 24.

To make room for the quartet on the 90-man offseason roster, the Steelers waived wide receiver Rico Bussey and kicker Sam Sloman, terminated the contract of veteran linebacker John Simon and waived defensive back Bryce Watts with an injury designation.

Sciba is a 5-foot-9, 191-pound kicker who concluded his collegiate career at Wake Forest and set school, ACC and NCAA records by making 34 consecutive field goals. He also is the most accurate kicker in NCAA history, converting at an 89.9% rate. He will be brought to training camp to provide competition for Chris Boswell, who is entering the final year of his contract.

Platel, a 6-1, 205 pound defensive back, played primarily the nickel position during his one year at South Carolina following his transfer from Division II Assumption. He finished the 2021 season with 21 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and one sack.

Mason, who is 6-6, 305, was a three-year starter on the defensive line at Arizona. In 2021, he had 42 tackles that included a career-high 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He also broke up four passes and led Arizona with nine quarterback pressures.

Snead is a 5-7, 174-pound receiver who has size similar to fourth-round draft pick Calvin Austin III. Snead played in 31 games over four seasons at East Carolina, totaling 201 catches for 2,374 yards and 18 touchdowns. In 2021, he set career highs by catching 67 passes for 855 yards.

Bussey, a former undrafted free agent, was an early training camp star last season but he spent much of the year on the practice squad injured reserve list. Sloman was invited to training camp last year and spent about six weeks on the practice squad late in the season. Like Bussey, he was signed to a reserve/futures contract in January.

Simon, a nine-year veteran, joined the practice squad late last season and appeared in one game with the Steelers.

Watts was an undrafted free agent from Massachusetts who was getting his initial look with the Steelers at rookie minicamp. He was among 10 such players signed after the conclusion of the NFL Draft.