The Detroit Lions just snagged safety Bishop Fitzgerald off the Steelers practice squad Tuesday, and for Pittsburgh, that instantly reshapes their defensive backfield depth. This isn’t just some background noise, it’s a real roster shake-up.
The Lions Just Boosted Their 53-Man Roster
Fitzgerald, who only joined the Steelers after roster cutdown day before the regular season even kicked off, is now heading straight to the Lions’ 53-man roster. That’s a quick turnaround for him and a direct hit for Pittsburgh’s secondary. Losing a guy like that, even from the practice squad, means one less option when you need to call someone up.
Pittsburgh’s Practice Squad Chess Match
The Steelers didn’t sit still though. They immediately made two practice squad signings themselves, bringing in former Giants wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins and cornerback Darius Rush. These moves filled the open spot Fitzgerald left, plus another one that opened up when Max Hurleman landed on injured reserve Saturday. It’s all about managing those slots.
Right now, the Steelers still have four defensive backs on their practice squad: Sebastian Castro, the newly added Rush, Doneiko Slaughter, and Car’lin Vigers. The big thing to watch? Slaughter has already been elevated to the active roster twice this season. That means they can only call him up one more time before they’d be forced to sign him to the 53-man roster to have him on game days. That clock is ticking, and with Fitzgerald gone, it makes their choices even more critical.
This whole situation really highlights how quickly NFL rosters can change and how vital practice squad depth is. For the Steelers, they’ve got some decisions coming up fast on that defensive backfield.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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