The Pittsburgh Steelers have released fullback Jack Colletto from their practice squad, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon. Colletto was the lone fullback on the roster. Tight ends Connor Heyward and MyCole Pruitt have both played fullback before and be used in that role, if offensive coordinator Arthur Smith wants to.
Colletto, who was on the Steelers’ practice squad last year, was signed again to the PS this season after being waived on Aug. 27.
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith used a fullback more than any other team in the NFL last season when he was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, but when it comes to roster construction, said that he defers to the needs of special teams coach Danny Smith, and Colletto was unable to carve out a multi-faceted role in order to make the 53-man roster.
“It goes back to matchups. If we’re playing a team that we think gives us an advantage playing two backs, then how much do you put in that game plan?” Smith said during training camp. “I give Jack a lot of credit because we’ve challenged him, and he’s been very physical out here and he’s a smart football player, and the big picture, we’ll have to develop.
“Again if somebody’s up in maybe a week and you have a fullback up. The easiest way to get on the roster, whether you’re a backup tight end, wide receiver, or running back or a fullback, is to do really well for Danny [Smith]. Then you get a helmet every week and then we can use those guys. So, it’s a lot of collaboration.”
The Steelers have not had a dedicated fullback on the 53-man roster since Derek Watt was not retained at the end of the 2022 season, and Watt was also the club’s special teams captain.
The Steelers also released outside linebacker Marcus Haynes from the practice squad on Tuesday. Haynes was on the practice squad for just a week.
Haynes previously signed with the Steelers on August 20 and was waived and signed to the practice squad on August 27, 2024. The Steelers then released Haynes once again on September 10, 2024.
The Steelers replaced Haynes by signing outside linebacker Eku Leota to their practice squad.
Alan Saunders contributed reported from Pittsburgh.