The Steelers have released tight end Kevin Rader, according to a report by Josina Anderson of ESPN.
Rader, a first-year player out of Youngstown State and a Pine-Richland alum, played in all four of the Steelers’ preseason games, recording three receptions for 30 yards.
The 24-year-old signed a reserve/future contract with the Steelers in January. He spent training camp in 2018 with the Green Bay Packers.
Rader spent most of the Steelers training camp third or fourth on the depth chart at tight end, behind veterans Vance McDonald and Xavier Grimble and battling with rookie fifth-round pick Zach Gentry.
He is the eighth player the Steelers have released since the end of the preseason, joining tight end/long snapper Trevor Wood, cornerbacks Marcelis Branch and Jhavonte Dean , defensive linemen Henry Mondeaux and Casey Sayles, outside linebacker Jay Elliott and wide receiver Brandon Reilly.
The Steelers’ roster now stands at 83 players. They need to cut down to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Saturday.