The Steelers just finished their preseason schedule on Thursday, and the immediate aftermath? Absolute chaos with the roster. They have already started slashing players, kicking a whopping 11 guys to the curb as they furiously work to get down to that mandatory 53-player limit. The clock is ticking, man, with Sunday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline looming large. This isn’t just a few tweaks; it’s a serious shake-up right before the season officially kicks off.
The First Wave of Cuts and Who’s Gone
Talk about a gut punch for a lot of players right now. The Steelers wasted no time making some tough calls, announcing a big group of releases. They said goodbye to tight end Jaheim Bell and offensive lineman Greg Crippen. But the biggest chunk of these early cuts hit the secondary, with defensive backs Jaylon Guilbeau, Jack Henderson, Brandon Hill, Tamon Lynum, and Daryl Porter all getting waived. On the receiving end, wideouts Jakobie Keeney-James, Cornell Powell, and Isaiah Winstead are out. And running back Alex Tecza also found himself on the chopping block. That’s a significant number of guys gone in one fell swoop, showing they’re not messing around as they refine the roster.
The Quarterback Room Is a Major Head-Scratcher
Even with 11 players already gone, the Steelers still have some massive decisions staring them down. The biggest one? Figuring out their quarterback situation. Right now, it sounds like they’re still debating whether to roll with *four* quarterbacks on the active roster. That’s a wild card, especially when you consider the health concerns swirling around one of their signal-callers. Will Howard, for example, was being evaluated for a concussion after Thursday night’s game, and we still don’t know the results of that testing. If Howard ends up on injured reserve to start the season, that would put him out for at least four games, potentially giving the team more time to evaluate their long-term QB plans. But it definitely complicates their immediate depth and decision-making for Week 1.
This whole situation makes you wonder what their plan truly is heading into the regular season. With more cuts expected before Sunday’s deadline and a huge question mark at quarterback, every move matters. It’s going to be a tense few days as they finalize their lineup and try to get the clearest picture possible before the real games begin.
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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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