PITTSBURGH — The Steelers’ front office spent Sunday navigating one of the NFL’s most unforgiving annual rituals, the league‑mandated cutdown to a 53‑man roster. By the 6 p.m. deadline, Pittsburgh had executed a sweeping series of moves that reshaped the depth chart and signaled a decisive shift toward youth, health, and long‑term roster flexibility.
Steelers Finalize 53‑Man Roster After Heavy Wave of Cuts
Head coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan oversaw the release or waiving of 33 players, a mix of veterans, camp standouts, and developmental prospects. The decisions, while expected in volume, carried no shortage of difficult conversations behind closed doors.
Among the most notable veteran departures were linebacker Malik Harrison, running back Travis Homer, and defensive lineman Dean Lowry, each of whom brought experience but ultimately fell victim to positional competition and scheme fit. Fellow veterans Esezi Otomewo and Elandon Roberts were also let go, marking a significant turnover in the defensive front seven.
The remainder of the cuts included a broad slate of young players and undrafted hopefuls:
Kyler Baugh, Devan Boykin, Sebastian Castro, Anthony Goodlow, Max Hurleman, D’Shawn Jamison, Steven Jones, Lance Mason, Lake McRee, Doug Nester, Lew Nichols, Doneiko Slaughter, Brandon Smith, Julius Welschof, Jacoby Windmon, Jamin Davis, Levi Wentz, Jaheim Bell, Greg Crippen, Jaylon Guilbeau, Jack Henderson, Brandon Hill, Jakobie Keeney‑James, Tamon Lynum, Daryl Porter, Cornell Powell, Alex Tecza, and Isaiah Winstead.
Many are expected to be candidates for the practice squad once waivers clear on Monday.
Two Trades Highlight Active Afternoon
The Steelers were equally busy on the trade front, completing two deals that drew league‑wide attention.
Pittsburgh sent running back Kaleb Johnson to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a 2028 sixth‑round pick. Johnson, who logged 28 touches for 69 yards in 2025 and returned eight kickoffs, never fully regained trust after a costly Week 2 miscue last season against Seattle. His departure opens a clearer path for emerging multipurpose back Eli Heidenreich, one of camp’s breakout performers.
In a more substantial move, the Steelers traded former first‑round pick Broderick Jones to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2027 fourth‑round selection. Jones started 38 games across three seasons but struggled to return to form following a neck injury that required offseason spinal‑fusion surgery. The Cowboys, thin at tackle, are betting on his athletic upside; Pittsburgh, meanwhile, gains draft capital and roster clarity.
Roster Still in Motion as Week 1 Looms
The Steelers’ 53‑man roster is now set on paper, but not necessarily in practice. With waiver claims opening Monday and practice‑squad signings to follow, additional movement is expected in the coming days. McCarthy emphasized earlier this week that the team would “remain aggressive” in shoring up depth ahead of the Week 1 home matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
For now, Pittsburgh enters the final stretch of preseason business with a leaner roster, a handful of new draft assets, and a clearer picture of the team that will take the field at Acrisure Stadium in mid‑September.
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