The Steelers are set to begin their season after finalizing their 53-man roster ahead of a league-required deadline on Tuesday, August 27. Every player drafted by the Steelers at the NFL draft this past spring made the final roster.
The Steelers are looking to make the playoffs again after missing in 2023. Coach Mike Tomlin returns, attempting to keep his 17-season run of “no losing seasons” rolling. He is joined by a new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, recently with the Atlanta Falcons.
Smith will have two quarterbacks new to the Steelers to potentially start this season – Russel Wilson and Justin Fields. While Wilson is a Super Bowl winner and well-known from his days with the Seattle Seahawks, Fields is an underperforming first-round pick for the Chicago Bears. The Steelers announced that Wilson would start Week 1 versus the Atlanta Falcons.
Despite finalizing the roster, many fans and NFL watchers believe the Steelers need another option at the wide receiver position. The team traded away Diontae Johnson last season, perhaps in the hopes a trade would yield them a better player. As the summer wore on, options in the trade market have dried up. The primary choice was Brandon Aiyuk, currently with the San Francisco 49ers, who has been in stalled negotiations for a renewed contract. While the two teams have not reached a deal for a trade, neither side has shut down the possibility either.
The players waived on Tuesday were linebackers Kyron Johnson, Luquay Washington, Jacoby Windmon, and Marcus Haynes, defensive backs Zyon Gilbert and Thomas Graham, defensive linemen Willington Previlon and Jacob Slade, offensive linemen Tykeem Doss and Joey Fisher, quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, running backs Aaron Shampklin and Jack Colletto, tight ends Matt Sokol and Rodney Williams, and wide receivers Jaray Jenkins, Duece Watts, and Dez Fitzpatrick.
There was NEVER a QB battle at camp. Russell Wilson was brought in to be the starter over Kenny Pickett. Justin Fields was brought in only because Pickett threw a hissy-fit and was traded. In the words of Foghorn Leghorn, “Pay attention son. “
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) August 29, 2024
