Tag: Steelers roster moves

Pittsburgh Steelers sign ex-Cowboys 2nd-round LB Jaylon Smith

Journeyman linebacker Jaylon Smith has found himself another home — his fourth in three seasons — with the Steelers.

Journeyman linebacker Jaylon Smith has found himself another home — his fourth in three seasons — with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His agent, Doug Hendrickson, was the first to announce the news.

The former second-round pick, drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2016, most recently appeared in a single Week 9 game for the Las Vegas Raiders. Prior to the Raiders, he spent time with the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and New York Giants.

Smith signs at a time when Pittsburgh is terribly thin at linebacker. They’ve had to rebuild completely after what was once a solid unit first came crashing down with a knee injury to Cole Holcomb, quickly followed by Kwon Alexander and, most recently, Elandon Roberts.

CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reports that Smith, 28, will start on the practice squad. He joins rostered linebackers Myles Jack, Mykal Walker and Blake Martinez.

In nine seasons, the Pro Bowler recorded 626 tackles (24 for loss), 11 sacks, six fumble recoveries and two interceptions.

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Steelers re-sign RB Anthony McFarland to practice squad

And, just like that, Anthony McFarland is back.

Almost as quickly as he left, Anthony McFarland is back. The Pittsburgh Steelers released the veteran running back on Thursday and, per NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, re-signed him to the practice squad yesterday.

Cutting McFarland was the most obvious move when Pittsburgh needed to make room to suit up linebacker Kyron Johnson for the Cincinnati Bengals game. He’d been inactive for four games after playing in two upon his return from injured reserve.

This season, McFarland has two catches for 11 yards and returned six kickoffs for 164 yards.

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Steelers vs. Bengals: Myles Jack among 4 roster moves ahead of Week 16

The Steelers made a handful of roster moves ahead of tomorrow’s critical battle with division rival Bengals.

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a handful of necessary roster moves ahead of tomorrow’s must-win battle against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Here they are:

Pittsburgh Steelers sign S Jalen Elliott to practice squad

The Steelers added depth at a painfully thin position.

We knew a signing was coming from the moment Damontae Kazee was suspended for the rest of the season. The Pittsburgh Steelers are painfully thin at the defensive back position with Minkah Fitzpatrick out (again) for an undetermined length of time and Keanu Neal and Elijah Riley on injured reserve.

To address that need, Pittsburgh signed safety Jalen Elliott to their practice squad today. The 25-year-old journeyman, who was with the Steelers in camp and also part of their practice squad early this season, has spent time with the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders.

Elliott played eight games in 2021, with one start, and recorded 12 tackles.

On Monday, Mike Tomlin expressed optimism that Riley could come off injured reserve this week. Expect their depth to be tested with Miles Killebrew and Trenton Thompson as the Steelers host the surging Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday.

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Steelers vs. Colts: Pittsburgh elevates LB Kyron Johnson from practice squad ahead Week 15 game

Kyron Johnson has been elevated to the active/inactive roster for the third consecutive week.

Kyron Johnson has been elevated to the active/inactive roster for the third consecutive week since being signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in October.

The inside linebacker played primarily on special teams after being selected by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft. That’s been his role thus far for Pittsburgh, as well, with each of his 33 snaps coming on special teams.

Given that Week 15 is the third and final time Johnson can be elevated, Pittsburgh will need to sign him to the 53-man roster or risk him going through waivers. According to Teresa Varley of Steelers.com, he’ll revert to the practice squad after the game.

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Steelers sign preseason EDGE rusher standout to practice squad

In a desperately-needed depth move, the Steelers signed preseason standout David Perales to their practice squad.

It’ll take a contingent of players to sniff the production of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, and that’s what the Pittsburgh Steelers will have to prepare.

Rookie EDGE rusher David Perales returns to the team after his release from the practice squad in October. He’ll join Markus Golden, Nick Herbig and fellow practice-squader Kyron Johnson as the only depth outside linebackers currently on the roster.

To make room for Perales, the Steelers released running back Qadree Ollison.

Perales played 100 preseason snaps, recording four tackles and a quarterback hurry.

If Watt and Highsmith remain on the final injury report on Thursday, expect Johnson and Perales to be called up.

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Report: Steelers to sign ex-Ravens QB Trace McSorley to practice squad

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to sign former Baltimore Ravens quarterback Trace McSorley to their practice squad.

Shortly after Mike Tomlin ended his press conference stating he’d explore options to add a quarterback, they did just that.

The Steelers are signing free agent Trace McSorley to their practice squad, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter,

McSorley has appeared in nine games since the Baltimore Ravens selected him in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft. In that span, he’s thrown for 79 yards, no touchdowns, five interceptions and has fumbled twice. He had the first start of his career in 2022 for the Arizona Cardinals.

Expect McSorley to be added to the 53-man roster but inactive (as the emergency QB) when the Steelers take on the New England Patriots on Thursday.

Mitch Trubisky will start in place of the injured Kenny Pickett, who had surgery on his high-ankle sprain this morning.

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Steelers signing alleged Pokémon scammer to 53-man roster

The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing NFL journeyman Blake Martinez to their 53-man roster.

Firings aren’t the only things the Pittsburgh Steelers are up to today. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, they’re signing journeyman linebacker Blake Martinez to their active roster.

He’s not so well-known for his playmaking ability as he is for an alleged Pokémon card scam involving his company. Martinez retired from the league last fall to focus on his collectibles business.

A fourth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2016, Martinez, 29, spent his first four seasons with the club. That run was productive enough to earn a three-year, $30 million free agent deal with the Giants in 2020. He was released during cutdowns in 2022 and then appeared in four games with the Raiders before retiring to sell rare Pokémon cards. After the scam allegations surfaced, Martinez returned to the NFL and was most recently on the Carolina Panthers practice squad, which is where the Steelers are plucking him from.

In 84 games (78 starts), Martinez has logged 13 sacks, four interceptions, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 18 quarterback hits and 22 passes defended.

Steelers LB Kwon Alexander among Pittsburgh’s early-week roster moves

Kwon Alexander’s season ended before he really had a chance to show his full potential in the Black and Gold. 

Kwon Alexander’s season ended before he really had a chance to show his full potential in the Black and Gold.

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Tuesday that the 10-year veteran linebacker, who suffered a torn Achilles against the Green Bay Packers, had been placed on injured reserve.

In nine games (two starts), Alexander contributed 41 tackles (five for loss), two quarterback hits, a pass defended, one forced fumble and a sack. His crucial interception against the Tennessee Titans sealed the game.

The Steelers also made a couple of practice squad moves, signaling further additions will be made this week. Guard Joey Fisher and tight end Scotty Washington were released. Defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko was released on Monday.

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Pittsburgh Steelers release DT Breiden Fehoko

This is the start of what could be a very active week for the Steelers.

In what could be a very busy week of roster moves, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced the release of defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko.

Fehoko was signed by the Steelers in April, released on cutdown day, and then resigned. He started the season on the practice squad but was promoted to the 53-man roster for one game on Sept. 20.

He spent three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2020.

Given the play of Montravius Adams and rookie Keeanu Benton, Fehoko was the odd man out. Adams missed the Packers game with an ankle injury but must be trending upward.

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