Trey Edmunds eager to seize likely 53-man roster spot, increased role with Steelers

Chris Adamski
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019 6:21 p.m. | Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019 6:21 p.m.

Trey Edmunds, No. 33 on the left, dives for the ball in a drill during a Pittsburgh Steelers organized team activities session in May. Edmunds is on the Steelers practice squad but appears in line for a promotion to the active roster as a running back.

With Jaylen Samuels down, the proverbial next man up onto the Pittsburgh Steelers’ active roster figures to be Trey Edmunds.

Edmunds has spent most of the past year-plus on the Steelers practice squad, though he did appear in four late-season 2018 games. When this summer’s training camp shook out, Edmunds was No. 4 on the Steelers’ running backs depth chart behind James Conner, Samuels and rookie Benny Snell.

Snell figures to be in line for a promotion to a bigger role, with Edmunds likely earning the promotion to the 53-man roster to backfill.

“I have been preparing since OTAs, so I absolutely will be ready,” said Edmunds, the older brother of Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds. “There’s always things to learn, but I have definitely been in it and definitely prepared and preparing as if I am ready.”

Edmunds arguably outperformed Snell during camp but as a fourth-round pick with impressive college credentials Snell was all but guaranteed a roster spot. Coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday praised Snell’s work over five games, particularly his special teams play.

Special teams is where Edmunds made a name for himself as an undrafted rookie with the New Orleans Saints in 2017. Edmunds had 1,115 rushing yards over 32 games at Virginia Tech (three seasons) and Maryland (one season), and he showed some promise as a short-yardage back for the Steelers during training camp and the preseason.

RB Trey Edmunds embraces one last chance to show he belongs on Steelers’ 53-man rosterhttps://t.co/54jrlPp3gD

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 28, 2019

But if Edmunds does “earn a hat” and play for the Steelers beginning Sunday at the Los Angeles Chargers, it will be on the coverage and return teams where he will likely see the most action.

“Yeah, that’s the identity here,” Edmunds said. “You get pulled up and you fill in at all the empty spaces, and (special teams) will be one of the empty spaces.

“Whatever the decision is or the verdict is (regarding a 53-man roster spot), I will be ready. And even if not, I will still be working regardless.”

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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.