The Pittsburgh Steelers had the task of cutting down their roster from 80 to 53 players on Tuesday and now have officially released their initial 53-man roster for the 2022 season. There aren't many surprises, but this is subject to change as the team will look to improve in necessary areas before week one of the regular season. Certain players may be placed on the Reserved/Injured list after the 4pm deadline and be labeled as a designated to return later on. These guys could come back later this season. Below is the full roster with analysis to go along with each positional group.
| Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers Offense
QB (3) – Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph
Analysis – No surprise here. This could change if the Steelers decide to trade Rudolph, but it appears as if the front office is set on keeping the veteran in the locker room. Trubisky and Pickett should be dressing every Sunday. All eyes will be on Head Coach, Mike Tomlin and how short of a leash Trubisky will have as the leading signal-caller.
RB/FB (4) – Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Benny Snell Jr. and FB Derek Watt
Analysis – Congratulations to Warren on making the team as an undrafted free agent. For now, the Steelers only have three legitimate options at running back as they said goodbye to former fourth-round pick, Anthony McFarland Jr. Snell ends up making it over him because of his play on special teams It will interesting to see if Warren has done enough to win the backup job or if the front office goes out and brings in a veteran ball carrier into the locker room.
WR (7) – Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, George Pickens, Calvin Austin III, Gunner Olszewski, Miles Boykin and Steven Sims
Analysis – There were only five wide receivers on the initial 53-man last season, but that changes in 2022. Boykin had a solid preseason along with Steven Sims. Seven guys is a bit of stretch, but this likely means Austin will be put on IR. Tyler Vaughns will hopefully his way back to the practice squad.
TE (3) – Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry and Connor Heyward
Analysis – Kevin Radar should be returning on practice squad, but at the end of the day the sixth-round pick, Heyward makes the team and joins his brother on the roster. No surprises here.
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end, Connor Heyward (#83) catches a pass during 2022 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. | Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
OT (3) – Chukwuma Okorafor, Dan MooreJr. and Jesse Davis
Analysis – Scott makes the roster to help with depth at the tackle position. The biggest surprise here is the release of Joe Haeg who many thought would be a lock to make the team, but the last-minute trade for Davis with the Minnesota Vikings changes the original expectation. Davis has experience on the right side and left tackle with 72 starts in five years. Moore Jr. was not good in the preseason and this position, along with the whole offensive line, is a huge concern.
G (3) –James Daniels, Kevin Dotson, Kendrick Green
Analysis – Dotson has probably won the starting job over Green at left guard. Again, an upgrade here would generate many thanks from the quarterbacks and running backs on the team. Green has yet to live up to third-round expectations after being selected over a year ago.
C (2) – Mason Cole and J.C. Hassenauer
Analysis – Nothing out of the ordinary at center. These two were expected to be here.
Steelers Defense
DL (7) – Cameron Heyward, Tyson Alualu, Larry Ogunjobi, Chris Wormley, DeMarvin Leal, Montravius Adams and Isaiahh Loudermilk
Analysis – The initial 2021 53-man roster had eight defensive lineman which was mainly in part due to the unknown status of Stephon Tuitt. This is a deep position for the defense and team as a whole, but Adams is likely to end up on IR with an ankle injury.
ILB (4) – Myles Jack, Devin Bush, Robert Spillane and Mark Robinson
Analysis – Marcus Allen, although a core special teams player for the Steelers, has been dealing with a hamstring injury. We should see him return on the practice squad, but cutting him saves over $2.5 million in cap space which covers the hit for incoming linebacker, Malik Reed. The seventh-rounder, Robinson, makes the squad and will now make a push to jump Spillane and maybe even Bush on the depth chart.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, Devin Bush (#55) participates in the organized team activities (OTA’s), Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. | Abigail Dean / Pittsburgh Steelers
OLB (4) – T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Malik Reed and Derrek Tuszka
Analysis – Many thought Gerard Avery would land on the list, but after the Steelers waived him last week. It was thought to have paved the way for Hamilcar Rashed Jr., but that changed when the Steelers traded for Reed with the Denver Broncos on Tuesday morning.
CB (5) – Cameron Sutton, Ahkello Witherspoon, Levi Wallace, Arthur Maulet and James Pierre
Analysis – The organization is in good shape here with the top three. Maulet and Pierre have been okay in training camp and while it would be awesome to see the front office reach out to Joe Haden, it seems very unlikely at this point. The former third-round pick, Justin Layne fails to make the initial roster in his fourth season.
S (5) – Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, Miles Killebrew, Damontae Kazee, Tre Norwood
Analysis – The injury to Kazee in the team's final pre-season game was thought to have changed the Steelers' plans at safety last minute after signing Elijah Riley. However, Riley didn't make the cut. The reason Kazee is on the 53-man is so the Steelers can move him to IR after the 4pm deadline and allow him to potentially come back this season.
Steelers safety Damontae Kazee | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers Special Teams
K (1) – Chris Boswell
Analysis – No surprise here. Boswell is the guy after signing a four-year extension a month ago.
P (1) – Pressley Harvin III
Analysis – Harvin will have the chance to rebound on an inconsistent first season with the Steelers. The former seventh-round pick will be the team's punter until further notice.
LS (1) – Christian Kuntz
Analysis – Same as Boswell here. Kuntz was never going to be replaced this year for his long-snapping duties.
Any surprises? Click to comment your thoughts on the final roster below!
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