Cardinals Sign Away Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receiver

Wide receiver Quez Watkins, who spent the entire 2024 season on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad, has signed with the Arizona Cardinals for the 2025 season, according to the NFL transaction page for Thursday.
Watkins’ contract with the Steelers expired when the team ended its 2024 season last weekend. The Steelers chose to sign 17 players to future contracts for the 2025 season, including eight that finished the season on the practice squad, but did not re-sign Watkins.
Instead, the five-year pro will work with the Cardinals next season. Watkins signed with the Steelers in March after spending his first four pro seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Watkins started the offseason as the fourth wide receiver on the Steelers’ depth chart, behind George Pickens, Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III. As the spring and summer went on, he lost playing time to Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek and Brandon Johnson.

The Steelers tried Watkins on special teams, but his one stint as a punt returner did not go well, with two mis-judged fair catches and a muff in the preseason. He also showed inconsistent hands during training camp. In three preseason games, he finished with one catch for 10 yards. He was released at the end of training camp and re-signed to the practice squad, where he remained throughout the 2024 season.
In 2023, Watkins played in nine games and caught 15 catches for 142 yards and a touchdown. Watkins had his best season in 2021, racking up 647 yards and a touchdown on 43 receptions. He followed that up the next season with 33 catches for 354 yards and a touchdown. He was limited in 2023 by a hamstring injury.

The Steelers re-signed Johnson on a future contract for 2025 this week. Miller’s contract, and that of wide receiver/kick returner Jamal Agnew, have also already expired, while Jefferson, Skowronek and Mike Williams will become unrestricted free agents in March.