The Steelers made a roster call that already looked risky, and the rest of the league just made it look tougher to defend.
Pittsburgh kept four quarterbacks and four inside linebackers, a choice that linked two positions that usually have nothing to do with each other. In this case, though, they absolutely did. The Steelers held onto Will Howard, Drew Allar and Mason Rudolph on the 53-man roster instead of keeping inside linebacker Elandon Roberts, and the logic behind that move is now under even more scrutiny.
Roberts had looked solid in training camp and the preseason, and there’s little doubt he would have helped the run defense. But the Steelers believed carrying four quarterbacks was the necessary move, and that decision was shaped by Mike McCarthy and Omar Khan.
Now comes the part that makes it sting more: other young quarterbacks are available.
Before getting to those names, there’s one obvious point - the Steelers could have gotten Howard onto the practice squad. After he threw three interceptions in his final two preseason games, he looked like a player who could clear waivers and land there without much trouble. And that assumption seems even safer now, because he wouldn’t have been anywhere near the top of the available quarterback list a full day after waiver claims ended.
The biggest names were Will Levis and, later, Joe Milton, who was waived by the Dallas Cowboys after roster cuts.
Even if Pittsburgh couldn’t have slipped Howard through, either of those options would have been a clean fit. Signing Levis or Milton would not have forced the Steelers to redo their quarterback setup, and both could have developed under McCarthy while the team tried to see whether either could grow into an NFL starter.
That’s the heart of the issue now. The idea that Howard is the future has taken a hit this summer, and the NFL’s roster churn has made the Steelers’ fear of losing a young quarterback look less urgent than they apparently believed.
Still, Pittsburgh is standing by the move.
To make it pay off, the Steelers need one of their young passers to become a real solution and the team around them to stay strong enough to contend after sacrificing what many viewed as an important piece of the defense for that fourth quarterback spot.
If that happens, the debate fades away. If it doesn’t, and especially if the inside linebacker group struggles, the quarterback decision will take the heat. And it probably should.
In Other News...
Steelers Practice Squad Includes Names Fans May Not Be Done Watching
The Steelers filled out most of their practice squad on Wednesday, and the list includes a few names that are likely to stay on the radar for longer than a typical late-August roster move. Pittsburgh signed 13 players, leaving four spots still open, and the group mixes veteran depth with developmental pieces at several positions, from safety Juanyeh Thomas and running back Travis Homer to wideouts Max Hurleman and Brandon Smith.
There are also several young linemen and defenders in the mix, including Steven Jones, Doug Nester, Esezi Otomewo, Kyler Baugh, Julius Welschof, Jacoby Windmon, Doneiko Slaughter, Sebastian Castro, Lew Nichols and tight end Lake McCree. For a team that always values practice-squad flexibility, the remaining openings suggest this is still a live part of the roster picture, especially with a few of these players offering enough upside to merit another close look. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Just Turned Up The Pressure On Joey Porter Jr
The Steelers have taken an important step with Joey Porter Jr., activating the young cornerback off the Physically Unable to Perform list and opening the door for him to play within the first four games if he is ready. Porter had been sidelined by a back injury, and his status had also hovered around ongoing contract extension talks, making his return a notable development for a defense that values his upside.
Joey Porter Jr. is now eligible to get back on the field while the team still works through the larger business side of things. The move does not mean an extension is done, but it does give Pittsburgh the option to bring him back into the lineup and keep negotiating before the season gets rolling, a useful bit of leverage for a team trying to manage both health and roster planning. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Made A Preseason O-Line Move Fans Did Not See Coming
The Steelers spent roster-cut day making one of the more notable offensive line decisions of the summer, parting with Broderick Jones in a trade with Dallas as they finalized their initial 53-man roster. The move came amid a busy round of roster trimming that also included veterans Elandon Roberts and Malik Harrison, while second-year running back Kaleb Johnson was shipped to Green Bay.
For Pittsburgh, the Jones deal stands out because it trims away tackle depth at a time when the line is already under the microscope, even as the front office adds more draft capital for the future. The Cowboys sent back third- and sixth-round picks, and the Steelers also included a fourth-round pick in the transaction, leaving the roster with a different look and a few more questions about how the tackle spots will be covered going forward. [Read more 🡒]