The Steelers’ preseason has produced a few real roster headaches, and that’s usually a good sign for the bottom of the depth chart. Several players have done enough to keep their names in the conversation, but strong August tape doesn’t always translate into a spot on the 53-man roster.
That’s why a handful of notable standouts still look more like practice-squad candidates than lock-in roster keeps once final cuts hit.
Robert Spears-Jennings has been one of the summer’s most encouraging surprises. The rookie has outplayed expectations by a wide margin, and his preseason work has looked like the kind of performance that should earn a job.
The problem is that Pittsburgh may not have an opening for him. If the Steelers bring in another veteran depth safety, Spears-Jennings could get squeezed out despite everything he’s shown.
Eli Heidenreich also flashed, but his path has been blocked by a lack of opportunities. Running backs didn’t get many chances this summer, and Heidenreich had a tough time proving himself because of that. The Pittsburgh product was a nice draft story, and his best preseason game came against the Buffalo Bills, but the likely outcome still points to roster cuts and a possible return on the practice squad.
Doneiko Slaughter went from unknown to talked-about quickly once camp opened. He didn’t win every rep, but he brought the kind of physical style Pittsburgh tends to appreciate.
Even so, his odds of making the roster remain slim. The practice squad still looks like the best landing spot, where he could keep developing and expand his role.
Max Hurleman is heading into Year 2 with a familiar problem. He has shown flashes in both of his summers with the Steelers, but not enough to force his way into a bigger role. Unless he becomes a dependable wide receiver and proves himself as a returner, there just doesn’t seem to be room for him after cuts.
Jacoby Windmon is in a similar spot. With Elandon Roberts re-signed, Pittsburgh’s inside linebacker group looks set unless something unexpected happens, like a trade, waiver claim, or free-agent addition.
Windmon made some decent plays this preseason, but the roster picture leaves little room for him. The practice squad appears to be where his season would begin.
In Other News...
Steelers Secondary Suddenly Has A Problem Before Week 1
The Steelers secondary took a hit just days before Week 1, with DeShon Elliott landing on injured reserve and set to miss at least the first four games. Elliott had battled back from a significant leg injury last season and was back on the practice field during training camp, but his latest setback leaves Pittsburgh without one of the key pieces it hoped would stabilize the back end early in the year.
Now the burden shifts to a reshuffled group that has to hold up immediately, with Jaquan Brisker, Jalen Ramsey, Robert Spears-Jennings and Rayshawn Jenkins among the names expected to absorb the snaps. For a defense built around keeping pressure on opposing passing games, losing that kind of experience this soon creates an early test the Steelers were trying to avoid. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Secondary Suddenly Has A Problem Early This Season
The Steelers secondary took an early hit before the 2026 season even got going, with starting safety DeShon Elliott landing on injured reserve with a designation to return. The move means Elliott must sit out the first four games while he works back from knee and hamstring injuries, another reminder that a defense built on stability can get tested quickly when one of its safeties is suddenly unavailable.
Mike McCarthy said Elliott has made progress, but the soreness he felt after a preseason game was enough to push the team toward caution. Pittsburgh now has three other safeties on the roster to lean on in the meantime, and Elliott is not expected to be eligible to return until Oct. 11 against the Indianapolis Colts, giving the Steelers at least a short-term depth problem to sort out on the back end. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Final Running Back Decision Just Got A Lot Tougher
The Steelers had some late backfield sorting to do before the NFL deadline, and one of the more notable decisions came at running back. Lew Nichols had put together a strong preseason, yet Pittsburgh still moved on from him as part of the final 53-man roster cuts, a reminder that camp production does not always translate into a spot once the numbers get tight. The team also dealt Kaleb Johnson to the Green Bay Packers before the cutdown, further reshaping the room.
Eli Heidenreich emerged as the rookie who stayed, earning the third running back job and giving Pittsburgh a younger piece to carry into the season. Even after the roster is official, the position still feels unsettled in a way the Steelers will have to manage, especially after a summer in which Nichols looked like he had forced his way into the conversation. [Read more 🡒]