WR Eli Rogers among roster cuts as Steelers get to 53 limit

The Pittsburgh Steelers have an abundance of linebackers and one fewer wide receiver than expected after announcing their cutdown to the 53-man roster Saturday.

By keeping sixth-round pick Ulysees Gilbert III and undrafted free agent Tuzar Skipper, the Steelers have 10 linebackers on the roster, two more than they carried at the end of last season. By cutting Eli Rogers and Johnny Holton, they have just five receivers; they had six at the end of the 2018 season.

In addition to trading tackle Jerald Hawkins to Tampa Bay in a swap of late-round 2021 draft picks, the Steelers cut two members of their draft class: outside linebacker Sutton Smith (6a, No. 175) and offensive lineman Derwin Gray (7, No. 219).

Smith missed 17 days of training camp and was unable to catch up despite playing heavily in the final two preseason games. He and Gray could be added to the practice squad if they clear waivers.

Safety Marcus Allen, a fifth-round pick in the 2018 draft class, also was cut as was running back Trey Edmunds, who finished last season on the active roster.

Rogers was the most experienced veteran player cut. He was beaten out for the slot receiver job by Ryan Switzer.

An undrafted free agent from 2015, Rogers had re-signed with the Steelers in March, agreeing to a two-year deal. He was limited to three games last year while recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in the 2017 playoff loss against Jacksonville.

Rogers appeared in 30 career games with the Steelers, catching 78 passes for 822 yards and four touchdowns. He also was used as a punt returner in the 2016-17 seasons.

Entering the preseason finale, Rogers and Holton, who had a touchdown catch in the preseason finale and experience as a gunner on special teams, were believed to be competing for the No. 6 receiver spot. Instead, the Steelers cut both players, deciding to keep a surplus at other positions. It’s possible Rogers or Holton could return if the Steelers place someone on injured reserve.

The Steelers kept five inside and five outside linebackers, including four newcomers: Free agent Mark Barron, first-round pick Devin Bush, Skipper and Gilbert. Skipper, signed by the Steelers out of rookie tryout camp, forced his way onto the roster by recording an NFL-best five sacks in the preseason.

53ME!!!!! Blessed beyond words??

— The Tuzar Skipper (@TuzarSkipper) August 31, 2019

The Steelers will carry nine offensive linemen, keeping undrafted free agent Fred Johnson along with backups Zach Banner, Chuks Okorafor and B.J. Finney. Among the 10 defensive backs on the roster is first-year player and free safety Kameron Kelly, who played in the Alliance of American Football in the spring.

Despite providing competition in training camp for the team’s trio of specialists, the Steelers kept kicker Chris Boswell, punter Jordan Berry and long snapper Kameron Canaday.

Thank you to the @steelers for the great opportunity. Looking forward to seeing where the next opportunity is and where this road will lead! Best of luck this season. pic.twitter.com/O1BhpJuSFG

— Ian Berryman (@iancberryman) August 31, 2019

Hawkins was the team’s fourth-round pick (No. 123 overall) in the 2016 draft, but he missed two of his three seasons with the Steelers because of injuries.

The Steelers remain in need of depth at tight end and safety, which could result in more moves over the next few days after players clear waivers.

Roster space could be created by placing an injured player such as Justin Layne or Ola Adeniyi on the reserve/injured list with a designation to return this season. Any player placed on IR before the 53-man cutdown would have been ineligible to play this season. The Steelers also could bring back a player they cut Saturday if they place someone on IR.

In 2018, the Steelers cut safety and special teamer Nat Berhe, but re-signed him two days later after putting Adeniyi on injured reserve.

The previous season, the Steelers traded for safety J.J. Wilcox on the day after roster cuts were made.

Starting Sunday at noon, the Steelers can add 10 players to their practice quad. Tight end Christian Scotland-Williamson is eligible as an 11th practice squad player because he is part of the International Pathway Program.

A list of the players cut on Saturday:

Quarterback: Devlin Hodges

Running back: Trey Edmunds, Travon McMillan, Malik Williams

Wide receiver: Trey Griffey, Tevin Jones, Johnny Holton, Brandon Reilly, Diontae Spencer, Eli Rogers

Tight end: Kevin Rader, Trevor Wood, Micky Crum, Christian Scotland-Williamson

Offensive line: J.C. Hassenauer, Patrick Morris, Garrett Brumfield, Derwin Gray

Cornerback: Marcellis Branch, Trevon Mathis, Jhavonte Dean

Safety: Marcus Allen, Dravon Askew-Henry, P.J. Locke

Defensive line: Greg Gilmore, Henry Mondeaux, Conor Sheehy, Winston Craig, Casey Sayles

Linebacker: Jayrone Elliott, Tegray Scales, Sutton Smith, Robert Spillane

Specialist: Ian Berryman, Matthew Wright, Christian Kuntz

Here is the composition of the 53-man roster:

Quarterback (3): Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Joshua Dobbs

Running back (4): James Conner, Jaylen Samuels, Benny Snell Jr., Roosevelt Nix

Wide receiver (5): JuJu Smith-Schuster, Donte Moncrief, James Washington, Diontae Johnson, Ryan Switzer

Tight end (3): Vance McDonald, Xavier Grimble, Zach Gentry

Offensive line (9): Maurkice Pouncey, Ramon Foster, David DeCastro, Alejandro Villanueva, Matt Feiler, B.J. Finney, Chuks Okorafor, Zach Banner, Fred Johnson

Defensive line (6): Cameron Heyward, Javon Hargrave, Stephon Tuitt, Tyson Alualu, Daniel McCullers, Isaiah Buggs

Outside linebacker (5): T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree, Anthony Chickillo, Ola Adeniyi, Tuzar Skipper

Inside linebacker (5): Mark Barron, Vince Williams, Devin Bush, Tyler Matakevich, Ulysees Gilbert III

Safety (4): Terrell Edmunds, Sean Davis, Kameron Kelly, Jordan Dangerfield

Cornerback (6): Joe Haden, Steve Nelson, Artie Burns, Mike Hilton, Cameron Sutton, Justin Layne

Specialist (3): Chris Boswell, Jordan Berry, Kameron Canaday