The Pittsburgh Steelers are deep into training camp, and while plenty of attention goes to the bigger names fighting for jobs, some of the most interesting battles are happening farther down the roster.
A handful of longshots have spent the summer making enough noise to at least force the Steelers to keep watching. Their chances may still be slim, but they’ve done enough in practice to get themselves into the conversation. If they don’t land on the 53-man roster, there’s still a path to the practice squad or another NFL opportunity.
Brandon Smith is one of the names worth tracking at wide receiver. The first-year receiver hasn’t put together perfect consistency from one practice to the next, but he has flashed enough to draw attention on multiple occasions. He’s made some strong plays during camp, and that has helped him start to work his way into the mix with preseason approaching.
The path is still steep. Pittsburgh is expected to keep six receivers, which means Smith would need to jump past players like Ben Skowronek, Eli Heidenreich, and possibly Roman Wilson to grab that final spot. Even with those odds, he’s positioned himself as someone to watch if the Steelers start building out the practice squad.
Doneiko Slaughter has also taken advantage of opportunity in the secondary. Injuries have opened the door for more reps, and the cornerback has been able to get involved with the top defense on some days. The 2025 undrafted free agent still has plenty to prove, but he’s held his own while getting more chances than anyone likely expected when camp opened.
That said, the climb remains steep. Unless the Steelers are hit with more injury issues, Slaughter still looks like a longshot to win a roster spot.
Travis Homer has a different kind of case at running back. That position looks mostly settled, with Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, and Kaleb Johnson projected to make the team unless Johnson somehow becomes a surprise bubble player, which seems unlikely. If another back is going to stick, special teams could be the ticket.
That’s where Homer has a real argument. He’s long been a useful coverage player in the third phase, and the Steelers could use help there. Keeping four running backs is still not the most likely outcome, but Homer has done enough in that area to stay in the mix.
Robert Spears-Jennings is another player getting a longer look because of the injury situation in the secondary. The rookie seventh-round pick came into camp with modest expectations, but he has moved into bigger roles and earned more attention from the coaching staff. He hasn’t made a bunch of standout plays with the first unit, but the Steelers are clearly giving him extended run.
For Spears-Jennings, the rest of camp and the preseason will matter. He may not have arrived with much buzz, but he has a real shot to make the roster if he can turn those opportunities into more production.
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