Promising Steelers Tight End Clears Waivers after Release
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Rodney Williams II has cleared waivers after his release on Tuesday.
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Rodney Williams II has cleared waivers after being released by the team, according to the NFL transactions page for Wednesday.
Williams was waived by the Steelers on Tuesday in a series of moves as the team made space for its trade deadline acquisitions, wide receiver Mike Williams and outside linebacker Preston Smith.
Since he cleared waivers, Williams can now sign with any NFL team, or he can re-join the Steelers practice squad, though the Steelers filled that unit by re-signing blocking tight end Matt Sokol on Wednesday.
Williams, known as “Hot Rod,” had been playing on four special teams phases for the Steelers since being recalled to the active roster in Week 3, and had been doing an excellent job of it.
His key block helped spring Calvin Austin III for a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown against the New York Giants in Week 8. Williams had also been working on the punt coverage, kickoff return and kickoff coverage units.
Williams had been the fifth tight end on the Steelers’ active roster behind Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, MyCole Pruitt and Connor Heyward. A 6-foot-4, 235-pound Memphis native, Williams first joined the Steelers in 2022.
He spent all of 2022 on the Pittsburgh practice squad, and was promoted to the active roster last Oct. 4, spending the remainder of the regular seasons there. Williams played in 13 games and recorded six tackles. He played on 55 snaps of offense once and was targeted twice without a catch.
This season, Williams was cut coming out of training camp and again added to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster when Pruitt and fellow special teamers Tyler Matakevich and Jaylen Warren were all injured. In six games, Williams has one tackle. He played five snaps on offense and was not targeted for a reception.
