The Pittsburgh Steelers have re-signed tight end Matt Sokol to the practice squad, the team announced on Wednesday. Sokol was released by the Steelers during the final cuts in late August.
Sokol joined the team early in training camp after an injury to tight end Rodney Williams II, but even after Williams returned, he found work as a blocking specialist and the sixth tight end on the team’s depth chart.
In three preseason games with the Steelers, Sokol appeared in 30 snaps, and was a blocker on 22 of them, going out into a passing route just eight times. He was targeted once, but did not make the catch.
Sokol also worked on special teams, especially the kickoff return and punt coverage units, but was unable to crack the rotation, especially with special teams-heavy tight ends Connor Heyward, MyCole Pruitt and Rodney Williams II ahead of him on the depth chart.
Originally joining the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State in 2019, Sokol has also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions and New England Patriots. He played in two games for the Chargers in 2020 and three for the Patriots in each of the last two seasons.
In 52 career games at Michigan State, Sokol recorded 31 receptions for 348 yards and two touchdowns.
Sokol was a two-time member of the team’s Eagles leadership council, three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection graduated in December 2017 with his bachelor’s degree in economics and earned his master’s degree in marketing research in December 2018. He was one of 10 Spartans to help volunteer with the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts during the bye weekend (Sept. 15-17, 2017) in Houston.
Sokol has just one career start in the NFL and has recorded no stats. He joins a Steelers’ tight ends room that features Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward, MyCole Pruitt and Rodney Williams.
The Steelers also added yet another player, and another key special teamer to their injured reserve list on Wednesday. Wide receiver Ben Skowronek was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, one day after being added to the team’s 53-man roster on Tuesday.