Steelers Roster Projection after Preseason Week 2

Parker Hurley |

Updated: Aug 19, 2019

The Pittsburgh Steelers have finished the halfway point of the preseason. Week 3 is known as the dress rehearsal game, which has the starters preparing as if the game were a regular-season one. Week 4 of the preseason is the last chance for bottom-level players to put tape out there for the practice squad and other teams’ consideration.

With that in mind, the Steelers roster is not locked but is much closer to set than it has been. How would the Steelers 53-man roster look if they were to make cuts today?

QUARTERBACK (3):

Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Josh Dobbs

Rudolph may have claimed the backup job in Week 2 of the preseason. Dobbs has not played well enough to find a trade, but has not played poorly enough to lose his job to Devlin Hodges.

RUNNING BACK (4):

James Conner, Jaylen Samuels, Benny Snell, Rosevelt Nix

Benny Snell’s surprising special teams prowess has made it easy to keep just four backs, including Nix.

WIDE RECEIVER (6):

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Donte Moncrief, James Washington, Diontae Johnson, Eli Rogers, Ryan Switzer

Johnny Holton is trying to use special teams to claim a spot, but he is currently on the outside looking in. Could he catch Switzer?

TIGHT END (3):

Vance McDonald, Xavier Grimble, Zach Gentry

Gentry was banged up in the second preseason game but looked solid in Week 1. Without competition behind him the team will need the rookie to be healthy in Week 1 of the regular season.

OFFENSIVE LINE (8):

Alejandro Villanueva, Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Matt Feiler, B.J. Finney, Chuks Okorafor, Zach Banner

Fred Johnson is pushing to make a case for the 53-man roster while Okorafor and Banner duel for backup tackle duty. The rest is locked in.

DEFENSIVE LINE (6):

Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Javon Hargrave, Tyson Alualu, Isaiah Buggs, Dan McCullers

This is very cut and dried with no one close to pushing the group.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (5):

T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree, Anthony Chickillo, Ola Adenyi, Tuzar Skipper

Adenyi is not injured enough to go on IR, but will miss regular-season time. That combined with a strong preseason has Skipper in.

INSIDE LINEBACKER

(5): Devin Bush, Vince Williams, Mark Barron, Tyler Matakevich, Ulysees Gilbert

Gilbert has played his way onto the roster with speed and special teams ability.

CORNERBACK (6):

Joe Haden, Steven Nelson, Mike Hilton, Artie Burns, Cameron Sutton, Justin Layne

Artie Burns is on the books and has played hungry in camp, making this a fairly decided unit. Brian Allen has played well, but there probably isn’t room for another outside corner.