Steelers Waive Hard Hitting Safety

The Steelers have released hard-hitting safety Trenton Thompson as part of their final roster cuts, the team announced on Tuesday.

Thompson came onto the Steelers’ radar after several safety injuries, allowing him to get signed and make plays. During his first game against the Buccaneers, Thompson nabbed an interception. He would make similar plays in practice, earning a boom-or-bust reputation, but he had a nose for the ball. That allowed him to stay around and makes him a strong candidate to be brought back on the practice squad if he clears waivers.

The Steelers signed Thompson on August 2nd after those injuries to Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee while Minkah Fitzpatrick was on personal leave. As a result, Thompson earned second and even some first-team reps once he caught up to speed with the opportunity still around.

Thompson, 25, is a 6-foot-1, 196-pound safety from San Diego State. He joined the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft and played one game as a rookie in 2022.

The Giants initially released Thompson at the outset of training camp and added him to the practice squad, but he was promoted to the active roster on Nov. 23. He played 12 snaps, all on special teams, and then was released back to the practice squad.

He was re-signed to a reserve/future contract for the 2023 season but released on July 25, before the start of training camp. Now that he is released, expect Thompson and Tre Norwood to scoot back to the practice squad. Kenny Robinson is a candidate for the practice squad as well.

The final safeties on Pittsburgh’s roster were Neal, Kazee, Fitzpatrick, and the special teams captain, Miles Killebrew. Slot cornerback Elijah Riley can play safety and special teams, allowing the team some flexibility to keep fewer true safeties on the final roster.