Steelers Release CBs William Jackson III, Carlins Platel

The Pittsburgh Steelers officially cut loose a pair of defensive backs in veteran cornerback William Jackson III and Carlins Platel, the team announced Friday afternoon.

Neither of the two played a snap for the Steelers, as Jackson was brought in via a trade with the Washington Commanders last fall, but struggled with a back injury that landed him on the injured reserve for the remainder of the campaign.

His release was anticipated, being that the Steelers needed to create salary cap space before the outset of the new league year. It also allows the team some breathing room to bring in a free agent or two to fill other needs. The Steelers also have a number of starters — namely on the defensive side of the football — that will hit the market this month.

The team was slated to pay Jackson nearly $13 million in the upcoming go-round. Being cut doesn’t necessarily mean Pittsburgh wouldn’t be willing to re-sign Jackson for less money. The team liked him before the 2016 NFL Draft, when the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals grabbed him in the first round. He spent five seasons in tiger stripes before moving on to Washington in free agency.

If nothing else, Jackson’s time in the Steel City prompted a continuation in the antagonizing tactics of Pacman Jones, who had some rather unkind things to say about his former teammate.

Platel was signed as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina last spring, but didn’t see the field in black and gold after a training camp injury landed him on the injured reserve list for the entirety of the 2022 season.