Released Steelers OLs Nate Gilliam, Chris Owens Find New Teams

A pair of offensive linemen released by the Pittsburgh Steelers this week have found new homes, as the New York Giants have signed Chris Owens and the Cincinnati Bengals added Nate Gilliam.

Owens was one of four player released by the Steelers on Tuesday to get down from 90 to 85 players on the team’s offseason roster. The Steelers originally signed Owens in April after he went undrafted coming out of Alabama.

Gilliam joined the Steelers’ practice squad last season and returned for 2022. The Wake Forest alum worked primarily at guard in 2021, but the Steelers tried him at center during training camp, which did not go particularly well.

Gilliam was released when the Steelers claimed center Ryan McCollum on waivers from the Detroit Lions. The team also added former Philadelphia Eagles guard William Dunkle and released Duquesne tackle Jake Dixon, in completely rearranging the third-team offensive line in the final week of training camp.

The Steelers will continue their preseason with their second game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday and will continue to pare down their roster, as the NFL mandates that teams cut from 85 to 80 players by 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Final cuts down from 80 to 53 will take place on Aug. 30, with practice squads able to be filled the following day.