Steelers Sign Big, Athletic Tackle to Practice Squad

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed tackle Kellen Diesch to their practice squad, according to a report by Mike Garafalo of NFL Network.

Diesch, 22, was released by the Chicago Bears in their final cut-down on Tuesday. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Arizona State by the Miami Dolphins, the 6-foot-7, 300-pound Diesch did not make the Dolphins out of training camp last summer.

He was added to the Bears practice squad, where he spent the entire 2022 season, without being elevated to play in a game.

Diesch tested incredibly in his pre-draft process, posting a 9.75 Relative Athletic Score out of 10 thanks to a 4.89-second 40-yard dash, 4.43-second shuttle, 32.5-inch vertical and 9-foot-2 broad jump.

A Dallas native, Diesch started his college career at Texas A&M. He played four seasons with the Aggies, mostly as a reserve. He transferred to ASU in 2020 and immediately became a starter and two-time All-Pac 12 selection.

With the Steelers, Diesch will be the fifth tackle, with four on the active roster: starters Dan Moore Jr. and Chukwuma Okorafor and backups Broderick Jones and Dylan Cook.

In 110 preseason snaps, 20 with Miami in 2022 and 90 with the Bears this summer, Diesch played 107 of them at left tackle and three at right tackle. Cook primarily worked at right tackle for the Steelers this camp, and they will likely form the bookends on the Steelers scout team this fall.

The Steelers can sign up to 16 players for their practice squad, beginning on Wednesday. Diesch is the first player from outside the organization reported to have signed. The team is also retaining nose tackle Breiden Fehoko.