Steelers Work Out Trio of Wide Receivers on Eve of Training Camp
The Pittsburgh Steelers worked out three wide receivers on the eve of the team's training camp on Tuesday, including Greg Ward Jr.
The Pittsburgh Steelers worked out four free agent players on the eve of training camp on Tuesday, according to the NFL transactions report, including veteran former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Greg Ward, Jr.
In addition to Pitt and Pine-Richland quarterback Ben DiNucci, whose tryout was reported on Tuesday, the Steelers also brought in wide receivers Tarik Black, Slade Bolden and Ward.
Black, 26, is entering his fourth professional season. An undrafted free gent out of Texas for the Indianapolis Colts in 2021, he spent two seasons with the New York Jets, playing one game for the team in 2021. Black was most recently with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad last season, but was released in January.
A 6-foot-3, 217-pound receiver, Black fits the big-body mold that the Steelers have seemed to prioritize in searching for receiver depth as of late. Marquez Callaway, Dez Fitzpatrick and Jaray Jenkins are all depth wide receivers on the training camp roster that are 6-foot-2 or taller.
Black was not extremely productive in college. His best season came in 2019 at Michigan, when he caught 25 passes for 323 yards and one touchdown. A transfer to Texas for his senior year did not result in an increased workload, catching 10 passes for 240 yards over eight games for the Longhorns before entering the NFL.
Bolden, 25, is in his third pro season out of Alabama. He first joined the Baltimore Ravens as a UDFA in 2022, but a training camp injury ended his rookie season. Bolden spent time with the Atlanta Falcons last offseason — and new Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. He was cut by the Falcons after training camp and did not catch on anywhere else last season. Bolden spent time this spring with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL, but did not play in a game.
A 5-f00t-11, 189-pound receiver, Bolden is a dramatically different type of player than Black. Bolden played mostly out of the slot at Alabama, where his best season came as a senior in 2021. He caught 42 passes for 408 yards and three touchdowns that year.
Greg Ward is the only of the three with extensive NFL experience. The former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver — where he played for now-Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl — played 40 NFL games from 2019-21, but hasn’t suited up in either of the past two seasons.
Ward was injured coming out of training camp in 2022 and was released before ending up back on the Philly practice squad that season. He had two stints on the Eagles practice squad in 2023, but his contract was not renewed at the end of last season.
His best season came in 2020, when he caught 53 passes for 419 yards and six touchdowns while being pressed into starting duty. A 5-foot-11, 190-pound Houston alum, Ward is another player that has mostly operated out of the slot.
The Steelers have 11 wide receivers on their roster as they enter training camp on Wednesday, and they do not have any vacancies. The team could be looking to make an upgrade on of their depth options at the position, or could be looking to carry one more receiver into camp at the expense of a roster spot somewhere else.
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