Steelers Release Veteran NT Dan McCullers

The Steelers released veteran nose tackle Daniel McCullers on Saturday, a surprising cut of a player that seemed to be poised to play a big role in the team in 2020.

McCullers, 28, entered training camp as the team’s lone experienced nose tackle, with defensive ends Tyson Alualu and Chris Wormley taking reps at the spot and rookie Carlos Davis showing raw promise.

Davis ended up being the difference maker, as he made the Steelers’ initial 53-man roster and McCullers did not.

The big lineman had been with the Steelers since 2014, playing in 73 games and making three starts. In his career, he had 41 tackles, 2.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits and two passes defended.

McCullers is the 22nd player to be released by the Steelers since the end of training camp on Friday, joining cornerback Trajan Bandy, defensive ends Henry Mondeaux and Calvin Taylor, defensive tackle Cavon Walker, offensive lineman Anthony Coyle, Christian DiLauro, Derwin Gray, Jarron Jones and John Keenoy, outside linebacker Tuzar Skipper, punter Corliss Waitman, quarterback Paxton Lynch, running backs Trey Edmunds, Wendell Smallwood and Kerrith Whyte, Jr., tight ends Kyle Markway and Kevin Rader, and wide receivers  Saeed Blacknall, Deon Cain, Amara Darboh, Ryan Switzer and DeAndre Thompkins.