With roster cutdowns looming, the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to have some uncomfortable decisions to make. The team has enough depth in key spots that a few legitimate players will be squeezed out when the 53-man limit arrives, and veteran defensive lineman Dean Lowry looks like the clearest name on the outside looking in.
The reason is simple: the Steelers’ interior defensive line is crowded and talented. Cam Heyward remains one of the league’s top five-to-seven players at the position, Keeanu Benton just landed a four-year, $72 million extension, and Derrick Harmon is coming off a productive rookie season with expectations to take another step in Year 2. Add in Yahya Black, who has started to look like a true run-stuffing nose tackle, plus free agent pickup Sebastian Joseph-Day, and the room fills up fast.
That depth matters because Pittsburgh is expected to keep four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, which makes carrying more than six interior defensive linemen unrealistic. At this point, sixth-round rookie Gabriel Rubio appears to have separated himself for that final spot after a strong summer as a rotational run defender with plenty of play strength.
That leaves Lowry in a tough position. The 32-year-old re-signed with Pittsburgh this offseason after a season-ending ACL injury during training camp last year, and he has bounced back well enough to look solid in his return. But when the Steelers have to decide whether to keep him or use that roster spot elsewhere, the answer seems straightforward.
Lowry still brings some pass-rush ability and can help on field goal and extra point units, but that package may not be enough to justify keeping him on the initial roster. He’s entering his 11th NFL season, and if Pittsburgh moves on, there’s an added wrinkle: as a vested veteran with four or more accrued seasons, he would not be subject to waivers.
That means the Steelers could move him to the practice squad without another team claiming him. Lowry would still have the chance to look for a 53-man opportunity elsewhere, but if that doesn’t materialize, he would almost certainly wind up back on Pittsburgh’s practice squad.
In Other News...
Steelers Just Created An Inside Linebacker Battle Nobody Saw Coming
The Steelers made a notable move at inside linebacker by releasing Elandon Roberts ahead of the 53-man roster cutdown deadline, thinning a position group that has been worth watching throughout camp. Roberts, a vested veteran who signed a one-year deal in August, appeared in two preseason games before the team decided to move on, and his status means he will not have to pass through waivers.
Cole Holcomb and Carson Bruener now find themselves with a clearer path as Pittsburgh sorts out the back end of its roster. The open spot created by Roberts release adds another layer to a competition that already had plenty of intrigue, and it leaves the Steelers with one less established name in the mix as they finalize the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Rookie Is Forcing A Real Aaron Rodgers Debate
A preseason performance like Germie Bernards is exactly the kind that gets a young receiver noticed in Pittsburgh. Drafted with the No. 47 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Bernard has flashed early for the Steelers by averaging 12.8 yards per catch through three preseason games and finding the end zone on a 13-yard bubble screen, the sort of play that shows both timing and trust in a hurry.
What has made Bernard stand out even more is the way he has already earned the confidence of teammates and coaches, which matters in an offense led by Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers are not handing out snaps just because a rookie looks promising in August, but Bernard has clearly put himself in the mix for playing time, and that alone makes his role worth watching as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Linebacker Shakeup Says A Lot About This Final Roster Spot
The Steelers made a quiet but telling change in their linebacker room, signing veteran Elandon Roberts to a one-year deal and moving on from Malik Harrison. On the surface, it adds another experienced body to a group that already includes Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson and rookie Carson Bruener, but it also sharpens the competition around the edges of the roster. With Cole Holcomb in the mix as well, Pittsburgh suddenly has more depth and more age at inside linebacker than it did a short time ago.
What makes the move notable is how much special teams work appears to matter in sorting out the final spot. The Steelers are not just weighing who can play inside linebacker in a pinch, but who can help on kick units and give the coaching staff dependable weekly value. Roberts brings that kind of profile, and Bruener remains part of the conversation too, which means the room is set up for a real test as the team decides how much versatility it wants to keep when the roster tightens. [Read more 🡒]