Steelers Release Blazing-Fast Rookie Linebacker

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released linebacker Luquay Washington, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Chris Ward |

Aug 27, 2024

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Luquay Washington during a training camp practice on Aug. 12, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released linebacker Luquay Washington, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon. Washington is a part of the last wave of cuts to complete the Steelers cut down from 91 players to 53.

Washington, a rookie out of Central Connecticut State, originally signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. He was released by the Chiefs at the end of July.

The Steelers signed Washington after waiving Wyoming linebacker Easton Gibbs. The reason for the switch was not immediately evident. Gibbs had only been with the team a few days. He was signed during the practice week after Tyler Murray ended up on the injured reserve list after a groin injury.

“I’m really excited,” Washington said to the New Britain Herald. “I always loved watching the Steelers play, especially in the AFC North with the rivalry games between the Ravens, the Browns, and the Bengals. It’s a very competitive nature that I’m accustomed to because I’m a very competitive player myself, so I’m very excited.”

Washington is somewhat undersized for a linebacker at 6-foot-1 and 232 pounds, but he showed exciting speed in his pre-draft testing, posting a 4.58-second 40-yard dash. His 7.26 Relative Athletic Score is mainly held down by his size.

A native of Waldorf, Maryland, Washington played outside linebacker at CCSU, where he spent five seasons. His best season statistically was in 2021, when he had 39 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in 10 games. He was limited to just seven games as a senior last fall, posting 31 tackles and 45 tackles for loss.

Washington was the second Central Connecticut State connection in training camp. The club had CCSU defensive line coach Charles Williams at St. Vincent College on a coaching internship.