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Steelers Release former Pittsburgh Maulers Draft Pick

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Pittsburgh Steelers DT Jacob Slade
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Jacob Slade during practice on Aug. 12, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released defensive lineman Jacob Slade, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon. Slade had at least eight guys in front of him on the Steelers defensive line depth chart, so his release was not a surprise



The Steelers signed Jacob Slade to a reserve/future contract on Jan. 17, 2024. Slade came out in the 2023 NFL Draft and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals. Slade earned several guarantees from the Cardinals when signing after the draft but was released following roster cut-downs in August. Slade was taken by the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL draft that spring, but he never signed with the club.

The Cardinals brought him back as a practice squad player where he would be off-and-on the practice squad a handful of times throughout the regular season.

Jacob Slade, along with his twin brother Zach, committed to play their collegiate football at Michigan State despite being from near Columbus, Ohio. Slade enrolled in 2018 and redshirted but he did appear in 11 snaps on defense as a true freshman, recording one tackle.

In 2019, Slade rotated in at defensive tackle and played in all 13 games for the Spartans. He finished the season with 14 combined tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one defended pass. The following season, Slade started all seven games at defensive tackle during the Big Tenโ€™s COVID-shortened season. He finished the year with 13 tackles.

Slade really took off as a redshirt junior as he played in all 13 games and started the final 12 of them at defensive tackle. He finished the season with a career-high 40 tackles, five tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and two defended passes. He earned AP Second-Team All-Big Ten honors following the season.

Slade returned for a fifth season but was limited throughout the season due to an injury. Over his five seasons at Michigan State, Slade appeared in 42 games and started 26 of them as he logged 88 combined tackles, 11.5 sacks, four sacks and four defended passes.

Pittsburgh Steelers DT Jacob Slade

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Jacob Slade at training camp on July 28, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

STEELERS ROSTER CUTS TRACKER

QB John Rhys Plumlee
RB Daijun Edwards
RB Jonathan Ward
RB La’Mical Perine
RB Aaron Shampklin
FB Jack Colletto
WR Jacob Copeland
WR/KR T.J. Luther
WR Quez Watkins
WR Jaray Jenkins
WR Duece Watts
WR Dez Fitzpatrick
TE Matt Sokol
TE Rodney Williams
OT Devery Hamilton
OT TyKeem Doss
T/G Anderson Hardy
OG Tyler Beach
OG Joey Fisher
DT Marquiss Spencer
DT Willington Previlon
DT Jacob Slade
OLB Kyron Johnson
OLB Marcus Haynes
ILB Kyahva Tezino
ILB Luquay Washignton
ILB Jacoby Windmon
CB Kiondre Thomas
CB Kyler McMichael
CB Zyon Gilbert
DB Thomas Graham
K Matthew Wright

Copyright ยฉ 2024 National Hockey Now LLC / Steelers Now. We are a fully credentialed news organization covering the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. In no way affiliated with or endorsed by the Pittsburgh Steelers or NFL.

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