Tag: Steelers roster moves

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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Steelers announce practice squad moves at linebacker

The Steelers made a practice squad move today, signing former Falcons LB Mykal Walker, releasing Caleb Johnson.

Caleb Johnson, we hardly knew ya. The Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad linebacker was given his walking papers as the team brought in former Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears defender Mykal Walker.

Selected by Atlanta in the 2020 NFL draft, he spent three seasons with the team. In 49 games (20 starts), Walker recorded 187 tackles, 11 passes defended, two forced fumbles, a sack and a fumble recovery. He also had three interceptions, one a pick-six.

The Fresno State product most recently spent time on the Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders practice squad.

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Pittsburgh Steelers announce multiple roster moves

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced a handful of roster moves on the practice squad today.

On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced a handful of roster moves on the practice squad. Pittsburgh signed linebacker Caleb Johnson and tight end Scotty Washington to the practice squad. To make room on the practice squad, the Steelers released offensive lineman Obinna Eze and tight end Noah Gindorff.

Johnson, originally signed by the New York Jets as a UDFA, started his college career at UCLA before transferring to the University of Miami. He played in 12 games (four starts) in 2022 for the Hurricanes in 2022, finishing the season with 48 total tackles (four for loss), 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. In two seasons at UCLA, he recorded 89 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two interceptions.

Washington joined the Cincinnati Bengals as a UDFA in 2020, where he spent time on the practice squad. He made his NFL debut in 2022 afer being elevated to the active roster to play against his former team as part of the New England Patriots.

The Wake Forest product played in 43 games (25 starts), recording 110 receptions for 1,676 yards and 13 touchdowns.

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Pittsburgh Steelers make CB roster moves official

The release of Desmond King and signing of Darius Rush is officially official.

Last night, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers would be moving on from cornerback Desmond King and swapping him for Darius Rush. Today, the team made it official.

Since signing Rush from another team’s (Kansas City Chiefs) practice squad, it was required they sign him immediately to the 53-man roster.

According to Pelissero, Pittsburgh attempted to find a trade partner for King.

The 6-foot-2 Rush, claimed off waivers by the Chiefs after the Indianapolis Colts cut him on August 30, has never played a single regular season down in the NFL.

Rush turned heads at the NFL Combine with his blazing-fast 4.36 40-yard time, which was good for T-4. Also on the list were soon-to-be Steelers corners Joey Porter Jr. (T-10, 4.46) and Cory Trice Jr. (T-11, 4.47).

In his final two seasons at South Carolina, Rush logged three interceptions, 15 pass breakups, one sack and a forced fumble.

Pittsburgh had an interest in Rush leading up to the NFL draft, hosting him on a top-30 visit, so signing him should come as no surprise.

It’s highly probable Rush lands on the inactive list on Sunday for the Steelers’ Los Angeles Rams matchup.

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Steelers make 3 bye week roster moves

The Steelers sign former 49ers fullback, release 2 others.

It was nice knowing ya, Brad Wing. Last month, the Australian punter returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers nearly one decade after his previous stint to temporarily fill in for the injured Pressley Harvin III. He was released Monday in anticipation of Harvin’s return after this week’s bye.

Here are the moves Pittsburgh made today, in addition to linebacker Kyron Johnson.

Steelers sign ex-Texans WR ahead of their matchup with Houston

Coincidence? I think not.

You often see teams sign a player of their opponent ahead of their scheduled matchup and that’s just what the Pittsburgh Steelers did on Wednesday.

Wide receiver Jalen Camp signed to the practice squad after spending the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Houston Texans. He was elevated for five games and started one notching only one reception for seven yards. Camp was a sixth-round selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2021 NFL draft.

Receiver is a position of need for Pittsburgh with Diontae Johnson on injured reserve, but it’s unlikely Camp will see any actual playtime. The Steelers will try to glean as much intel as they can on the Texans while he’s there.

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Steelers poach RB Godwin Igwebuike from the Falcons

The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing Atlanta Falcons running back Godwin Igwebuike with Anthony McFarland Jr. on injured reserve.

With Anthony McFarland Jr. (knee) on injured reserve for the next few weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers are signing running back Godwin Igwebuike from the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.

Versus the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers elevated another former Falcon, Qadree Ollison. He signed to the practice squad on September 2 and reverted to the unit after playing solely on special teams (five snaps) but not recording a stat. If they like what they see in Igwebuike this week in practice, he could be elevated over Ollison versus the Las Vegas Raiders.

He also brings experience as a kick returner, something Pittsburgh desperately needs with Gunner Olszewski struggling with said duties and dealing with a concussion. Olszewski caught a kickoff that was headed out of bounds, placing them on the nine-yard line instead of the 40. He also didn’t signal a fair catch until after he caught it, as Mike Tomlin looked on in disgust.

In five games with the Seattle Seahawks last season, Igwebuike tallied 308 yards (28.0 average), including a career-high 50-yard return, on 11 kick returns.

Calvin Austin III filled in after Olszewski’s exit on Monday, but no one wants to double the risk of exposing him to injury since he’s already the team’s primary punt returner.

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Steelers make a handful of roster moves following rookie minicamp

Dreams came true for four undrafted rookies today.

Dreams came true for four undrafted rookies today, as the Pittsburgh Steelers signed four tryout players from last weekend’s rookie minicamp.

Those signed are defensive lineman Trevon Mason (Arizona), cornerback Carlins Platel (South Carolina), kicker Nick Sciba (Wake Forest) and receiver Tyler Snead (East Carolina).

Corresponding roster moves were made with receiver Rico Bussey and kicker Sam Sloman and linebacker John Simon. The Steelers also waived/injured defensive back Bryce Watts.

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