Steelers Promote Another Tight End to Active Roster

PITTSBURGH — Tight end Rodney Williams II has been promoted from the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad to the team’s 53-man active roster, the club announced on Wednesday. Williams has been with the Steelers since 2022, and played in 13 games for the team last season, mostly on special teams.

His promotion coincides with both a knee injury to No. 3 tight end MyCole Pruitt, and injuries to core special teamers Tyler Matakevich and Ben Skowronek. Matakevich and Skowronek were both placed on the injured reserve this week and will miss at least the next four games. Pruitt’s status for this Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers is unknown.

A 6-foot-4, 235-pound Memphis native, Williams played collegiately at UT Martin. He first joined the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2022, before being cut at the end of training camp and being snapped up by the Steelers.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Rodney Williams II at practice on Jan. 3, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

He spent all of 2022 on the Pittsburgh practice squad. In 2023, he started on the practice squad, but was promoted to the active roster after an injury to Pat Freiermuth on Oct. 4, and spent the rest of the season on the 53-man roster. He helped score a safety after a Miles Killebrew blocked punt in a 17-10 Steelers win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5.

On the season, he played in 13 games, and recorded six tackles. He played on 55 snaps of offense once and was targeted twice without a catch.

The Steelers now have five tight ends on their 53-man active roster with Williams joining Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Pruitt and Connor Heyward. Additionally, Matt Sokol was signed to the team’s practice squad on Wednesday.