The Steelers have signed defensive back Tariq Carpenter, fullback Zander Horvath, and running back Qadree Ollison to their practice squad, bringing the practice squad to 16 total players. That means now that if Pittsburgh wants to make another move on the active roster or practice squad, a corresponding move will have to occur for those to happen.
Ollison, 26, was with the Jacksonville Jaguars this preseason but was waived on Tuesday. The 6-foot-1, 232-pound back is known as a big, physical runner and could help the Steelers by providing a backup similar in stature to starter Najee Harris. He could also help provide a scout team to look for bigger backs on the schedule.
A fifth-round pick by the Falcons in the 2019 NFL Draft, Ollison spent three seasons in Atlanta from 2019-21. His most productive season was in 2021 when he rushed 21 times for 105 yards. He joins Greg Bell in the running back room on the practice squad.
Horvath is an athletic football player. Had he tested at the NFL Combine, he would have been the most athletic fullback ever. He posted a perfect 10 out of 10 RAS, running a 4.60 40-yard dash, 35.5-inch vertical jump, 31 bench press reps, 4.25 short shuttle, 6.75 3-cone, and 10-foot-3-inch broad jump.
That testing allowed Horvath to get drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Purdue. He was selected in the 7th round by the Chargers and in his rookie season, caught two touchdowns. He had four rushes for eight yards but two first downs on his minimal touches during the season. An avid special teamer, Horvath played 256 special teams snaps last year on kick return, kick block, punt return, and punt coverage, turning into a core of that unit for Los Angeles.
The Chargers released him after initial cuts to add Tanner Muse to their 53-man roster. Head coach Brandon Staley said they wanted Horvath back on the practice squad, but something went awry. Horvath’s best season at Purdue came in the COVID-shortened season when he racked up 304 yards receiving and 442 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He earned Big Ten Third-Team honors following the impressive shortened season. His senior season he put up over 400 total yards, with 320 of those yards coming on the ground. He is the only true fullback on the roster.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing Tariq Carpenter to their practice squad, according to a report by Aaron Wilson of KPRC Houston.
Carpenter, 24, has played all over the defense in his career, with time at safety, edge rusher, and inside linebacker while playing with the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers drafted Carpenter in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia Tech. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Carpenter played in 14 games as a rookie, recording eight tackles in all situations. The vast majority of his reps last season came on special teams.
Over two preseasons, Carpenter has been used as a free safety, box safety, linebacker, and slot cornerback. This season, he played 63 snaps of defense over the first and third Green Bay preseason games and had six tackles and a pass defended.
That versatility and special teams ability is likely the intriguing thing to the Steelers, who lost special teams ace and athletic linebacker Tanner Muse on waivers to the Los Angeles Chargers.