Steelers Transactions
Steelers Try Out former Penn State WR DeAndre Thompkins
The Steelers had a local college star in for a workout on Friday, as former Penn State wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins agreed to a tryout with the team.
Thompkins was listed as working out with the Steelers on the NFL Transactions page. It’s not clear if he was actually able to get a workout in at Heinz Field, as the team’s practice has been pushed back to Friday evening due to rain.
Other tryouts have reported that it’s taken a day or two for them to clear the COVID-19 protocol and actually get their workout completed.
Thompkins, 24, last played with the DC Defenders in the XFL this spring. He finished the abbreviated spring season with seven catches on 17 targets for 85 yards and one touchdown. In 2019, he was with the Philadelphia Eagles in training camp.
In four seasons with Penn State, Thompkins had 83 catches for 1,245 yards (15 yards per catch) and eight total touchdowns.
The Steelers have been banged up at the wide receiver position, with Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster missing practice time this week and Anthony Johnson being placed on the injured reserve with a knee injury on Friday.
Thompkins is the second former Penn State wide receiver to try out with the Steelers. They worked out Saeed Blacknall earlier in the week, before re-singing him on Friday after releasing him earlier in training camp.