Steelers Released Sixth-Round Draft Pick Quincy Roche

The Pittsburgh Steelers have waived sixth-round draft pick Quincy Roche, the team announced on Tuesday. He was the only of the team’s draft picks to fail to make the initial 53-man roster.

Roche was taken by the Steelers with the No. 216 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Miami, where he spent one season after transferring from Temple as a graduate student.


Roche started out training camp on the second-team defense with the long-term absence of starting outside linebacker T.J. Watt, but he was passed for reps and opportunities as training camp went on by first-year undrafted rookie Jamir Jones.

In four preseason games this summer, Roche had five tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Roche started 10 games for the Hurricanes in 2020 and finished with 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks while earning third-team All-ACC honors. He also forced two fumbles and recovered three. In three seasons with Temple, Roche had 26 sacks and 39.5 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

Roche was among 14 players removed from the active roster on Tuesday as the Steelers cut down to the NFL-mandated 53-man limit before the 4 p.m. deadline.

The Steelers also cut guard Rashaad Coward, running back Trey Edmunds, guard B.J. Finney, cornerback Mark Gilbert, tackle Chaz Green, tackle John Leglue, outside linebacker Cassius Marsh, cornerback Arthur Maulet, tight end Kevin Rader, running back Jaylen Samuels, safety Donovan Stiner and wide receiver Cody White.

Additionally, quarterback Josh Dobbs was placed on injured reserve.