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These four Steelers could be on the outside looking in when Week 1 rolls around
The Pittsburgh Steelers will hold their first training camp practice on Thursday, marking the official start of their 2025 journey from July to January, and hopefully early February.
With that in mind, Pittsburgh will have to shrink its roster down to 53 players, and some notable names will miss the cut. With that said, these three Steelers veterans could find themselves on the outside looking in at the end of the preseason.
QB Skylar Thompson
Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images
The Steelers always go to camp with four quarterbacks, and Thompson is going to get the fewest reps out of all of them. Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, and Will Howard will be the three quarterbacks on the roster come Week 1, while Thompson is either sent to the practice squad or just flat-out released.
OLB DeMarvin Leal
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
Leal’s role really declined in 2024. He was on the field for just 51 defensive snaps and appeared in just five games. On top of that, the Steelers already have their top four edge rushers all but set with T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Jack Sawyer. It’s hard to see Leal carving out a roster spot for himself, especially because he’s been a fringe guy the last two seasons.
WR Scotty Miller
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
Assuming the Steelers make a move for another wide receiver to be the No. 2 opposite DK Metcalf, things get interesting for Miller. He appeared in 13 games in 2024, but caught just five passes on nine targets. Even if another receiver isn’t brought in, Metcalf and Calvin Austin have roster spots locked, and it would be shocking if the Steelers already gave up on Roman Wilson. With three spots all but locked, and a potential fourth spot on the depth chart secured by an outside addition, Miller will be competing with Robert Woods and Ben Skowronek for two, or potentially one remaining spot if the Steelers only keep five wideouts.
TE Connor Heyward
Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images
The Steelers brought in Jonnu Smith via trade with the Miami Dolphins, adding another tight end who can make plays in the passing game, which reduces the need for Heyward even further. He’s also more of a fullback than anything, which almost no teams use around the NFL anymore, and he played in just 18 percent of offensive snaps in 2024. Outside of special teams, there’s nothing that Heyward is providing for Pittsburgh. He had just six catches last season and has just 41 over three seasons. With all of that in mind, don’t be shocked if he doesn’t make the roster.
Behind The Steel Curtain will provide coverage after the first practice on Thursday afternoon, as I’ll give my thoughts on what I saw from Latrobe, so be sure to stay locked in to BTSC as we begin another season.