Steelers Cut Backup QB, Rudolph Secures No. 3 Job

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released fourth-string quarterback Tanner Morgan, the club announced Monday, likely finalizing their depth chart at the game’s most important position.

Morgan, an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota, playing in all three preseason games, most extensively in the opener against Tampa Bay, when he saw 21 reps. He finished the preseason 6 of 12 for 32 yards, with no touchdowns, one interception and he was sacked twice. He also ran four times for negative three yards and fumbled twice, though neither was lost.

Morgan worked exclusively behind Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph in the Steelers’ quarterback pecking order that remained unchanged from the first day of OTAs, and at no point throughout camp did the rookie seem to be close to challenging the veterans ahead of him. The Steelers will likely keep all three of their returnin, with Rudolph eligible to be active as an emergency quarterback on game days thanks to an NFL rule change this season.

A 6-foot-2, 200-pound quarterback, Morgan played six seasons with the Golden Gophers. In 2022, Morgan started eight of the nine games that he appeared in. He completed 107-of-160 passes for a career-high 67% of his passes. On his 107 completions, Morgan threw for 1,382 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions.

His best season was back in 2019, when Morgan started all 13 games for Minnesota and broke school records with 3,253 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. In a game against Purdue, Morgan completed 21-of-22 passes for 396 yards and four touchdown passes. Morgan was named second-team All-Big Ten following the 2019 season.

Morgan’s release was one of 10 on Monday to bring the Steelers down to 72 players on their active roster. The team has until 4 p.m. on Tuesday to reach the NFL regular season limit of 53 players.