Steelers All 90: How Did Practice Squad Year Help S Donovan Stiner?

All 90 is a Pittsburgh Steelers Now series profiling each of the 90 members of the Steelers 2022 offseason roster.

26 • Donovan Stiner, first-year safety, Florida
6-foot-2, 210 pounds, 23 years old

Acquired: Donovan Stiner signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2021.

Last season: Stiner was cut coming out of training and spent the entire season on the Steelers practice squad, without ever being activated for a game.

College: Played in 48 games for Florida, recording 150 tackles and interceptions in his time with the Gators. As a senior in 2020, he had 62 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass breakup. He was also a key member of Florida’s special teams units.

Camp outlook: Stiner is a player the Steelers seem to like, but there is even more depth at the safety position now than there was a year ago. Veteran free agent Damontae Kazee has starting experience, as does Karl Joseph, who was also on the practice squad last season and was called up ahead of Stiner. Tre Norwood got a ton of experience as a rookie last year, and Miles Killebrew is a trusted free agent. There will be tough cuts and even tough practice squad decisions at the safety position this season for the Steelers.

If Stiner is going to have a role with the team in 2022, he will have to take the lessons learned on the practice squad last season and apply them this training camp and preseason. Even if he can’t break through with the Steelers, he could land an NFL gig elsewhere with a strong showing this summer.

Future: Stiner’s rookie contract runs through 2023, after which he will be a restricted free agent.

The rest of the 90: