The Steelers are making moves-and not just on the field.
Ahead of their Monday night clash with the Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh shuffled the deck with several roster adjustments that speak volumes about where this team stands heading into a pivotal Week 15 matchup.
Let’s start with the headline: the Steelers officially signed wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the 53-man roster. That move had been in the works, and now it’s locked in.
To make room, they released wideout Ke’Shawn Williams, who had a brief stint earlier this season as the team’s starting return specialist. Williams showed flashes, but with the offense looking to stretch the field and add veteran presence, Valdes-Scantling’s deep-threat ability clearly won out in the numbers game.
But the moves didn’t stop there.
Pittsburgh also elevated two players from the practice squad for Monday night-offensive tackle Jack Driscoll and defensive lineman De’Marvin Leal. These are standard game-day elevations, meaning both players will revert back to the practice squad after the game, but their presence signals where the Steelers are feeling the heat.
Driscoll’s elevation is tied directly to the team’s battered offensive line. With Broderick Jones and Calvin Anderson both on injured reserve, and Andrus Peat ruled out for Week 15, Pittsburgh is thin at tackle.
Driscoll gives them a much-needed body-and some versatility-up front. He’s a plug-and-play option who can fill gaps in a pinch, and that’s exactly what the Steelers need right now.
As for Leal, his call-up raises a few eyebrows. On the surface, it could be a response to the absence of T.J.
Watt, who’s sidelined with a lung injury. While Leal isn’t a one-for-one replacement for Watt-no one is-he does offer some positional flexibility.
He’s lined up both inside and outside in the past, and that kind of versatility is gold when you’re dealing with injuries across multiple spots. There’s also the lingering question of rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, who’s listed as questionable.
If Harmon can’t go, Leal could see meaningful snaps.
Bottom line: these aren’t just procedural moves. They’re strategic shifts meant to patch holes and prepare for a high-stakes showdown against a high-powered Dolphins team. The Steelers are adjusting on the fly, and these roster tweaks could end up playing a quiet but critical role in how Monday night unfolds.