On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced their initial 53-man roster. Initial is the key word there, as they have already made moves in the hours since. Now, it's time for the front office to put together the team's 16-man practice squad. The NFL has made some changes to the practice squad, including making it accessible for veterans to be signed.
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Former Chargers defensive linemen Breiden Fehoko will remain on the Steelers practice squad to start the 2023 season.
Well, the Steelers have officially brought back one of their own for the first spot on the practice squad. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that the team has brought back defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko. He was signed in free agency earlier this offseason and was among a few somewhat surprising cuts earlier in the week. The LSU product has started four career games in his first three NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers.
#Steelers are signing DT Breiden Fehoko back to their practice squad, per his agents @NessMugrabi and @davidcanter.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 30, 2023
Elsewhere, a few former Steelers players have found new homes. The team signed running back Xazavian Valladay late in the process, which never gave him a true chance to establish himself in Pittsburgh. Now, he has signed with the New York Jets' practice squad. It seemed like he would have made some sense for the Steelers' practice squad.
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Linebacker Tanner Muse's tenure with the Steelers lasted just a few months, as the Chargers have claimed the special teams ace off waivers.
With three running backs on the 53-man roster, Pittsburgh seemingly will carry at least one on the practice squad. Valladay made sense for that spot, but now they will have to look elsewhere. Linebacker Tanner Muse was another mild surprise that was cut ahead of the 53-man roster. He was signed earlier this offseason to be a vital special teams member for the Steelers.
He has now been claimed off waivers by the Chargers. Like Valladay, he made some sense as a return candidate for the practice squad. Beat writer Mark Kaboly of The Athletic mentioned a few other names to watch for the Steelers' practice squad, including Rodney Williams and Nick Kwiatkoski. Similar to Muse, Kwiatkoski was signed during the summer as a veteran depth option at inside linebacker.
Unfortunately, injuries derailed his time in training camp. Kwiatkoski, who has 1,257 career special teams snaps, could be a guy that benefits from the newer practice squad rules.
Steelers Add More To The Practice Squad
The team added eight more players to the practice squad on Wednesday, seven who were released in the final roster cutdown. The players included were: Luq Barcoo, running back Greg Bell, receiver Dez Fitzpatrick, defensive lineman Jonathan Marshall, linebacker David Perales, safety Trenton Thompson and tight end Rodney Williams. The final player is former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown.
On Thursday, four more were added including offensive tackle Kellen Diesch, receiver Simi Fehoko (the cousin of defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko), guard Joey Fisher, and defensive back Josiah Scott.
Who else would you like to see fill out the 16-man squad for 2023? Should the team have held onto a guy like Tanner Muse? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
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