Making the Call on the Pittsburgh Steelers' Hardest Remaining Cuts

There are just under two weeks until the Pittsburgh Steelers have to pare their roster down from the current 90 players to first 75 and then the final 53. There will be many difficult decisions ahead.

Some may seem like no-brainers, given the players who haven't lived up to their potential in camp—but even those are tough cuts to make, especially for players who just a month ago seemed like they could make positive contributions. Others are simply victims of the numbers game—one roster need at a given position means taking a player away from another. 

Here are five players who appear to be on the wrong side of the roster bubble at this point in August. These five could prove to be difficult cuts for the Steelers, but also necessary ones, given their positional needs and the very limited number of roster spots that are truly up for grabs.

QB Tajh Boyd

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Initially, it seemed as though the Steelers brought on former New York Jets 2014 draft pick Tajh Boyd to provide competition with third-stringer Landry Jones. But that's not how things have played out this summer.

Jones, who had been serving as the Steelers' No. 2 quarterback while Bruce Gradkowski was on the physically unable to perform list, has been getting the vast majority of quarterback snaps behind starter Ben Roethlisberger. He's also handled quarterback duties for nearly all of the team's two preseason games thus far. Boyd has been nowhere to be found.

And now, with Gradkowski activated and on the field at training camp, Jones' reps will be cut into significantly. Which means the rare reps that Boyd got will also dry up. Without playing time, there's no way to evaluate a player. Boyd is almost guaranteed to be cut.

Update: The Steelers announced the release of Boyd on Tuesday morning, upon signing wide receiver Jarrod West.

CB B.W. Webb

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Outside of the players that can be assumed safe at the cornerback position in Pittsburgh—Brandon Boykin, William Gay, Cortez Allen and Antwon Blake—are a jumble of players all trying to stick on the roster as depth. But the numbers do not favor the Steelers keeping very many more, which is why B.W. Webb could be on the outside looking in.

In this scenario, the Steelers would be keeping two, or perhaps three other corners—rookies Doran Grant and Senquez Golson and Kevin Fogg. But Golson has missed all of training camp with a shoulder injury and could spend his first year on injured reserve.

That could help Webb's chances of keeping his job. But either way that means seven cornerbacks on the 53-man roster, which doesn't feel likely. Expect Golson to go on injured reserve and Webb to be cut. And if not Webb, then Fogg.

C Reese Dismukes

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Reserve center Reese Dismukes started out Steelers' training camp all wrong. This was a surprise. Even though Dismukes went undrafted this year, that was not expected and he seemed like a steal for the Steelers to snag as a rookie free agent.

In the early part of Steelers camp, Dismukes had six botched snaps in one day and then was manhandled in one-on-one drills the following week. 

And in two preseason games, in which he's played a total 83 snaps according to Pro Football Focus, he's also not distinguishing himself in a positive way. He has a negative overall grade from the site, and his biggest struggles have been as a run-blocker.

The Steelers don't need a developmental third-string center eating up a roster spot this year—not when he needs more development than they had first expected. Because he hasn't lived up to his potential, Dismukes should be among the cuts.

DE Ethan Hemer

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Defensive end Ethan Hemer has been the beneficiary of increased reps this summer because of injuries. He's been almost exclusively a part of the second-team defensive line after Clifton Geathers headed to injured reserve and Daniel McCullers spent time on the sideline with a hamstring injury.

But now, with McCullers back and the Steelers wanting to see more out of rookie end L.T. Walton, it looks like Hemer will be spending the remaining weeks before roster cuts with the third team. Seeing his reps decrease will not help his chances of making the team, though he has recorded one sack and one quarterback hurry in the preseason thus far.

As Steelers Depot's Matthew Marczi points out, the team will likely have to decide between Walton and Hemer for the last depth defensive line spot on the roster. And a drafted rookie definitely has the edge over Hemer, who spent part of last year, his first in the NFL, on Pittsburgh's practice squad.

WR Kenzel Doe

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Receiver Kenzel Doe is a recent addition to the Steelers roster, but he's already gotten playing time in the preseason as a punt returner. He has returned three punts in two games for a total of 25 yards and also fair-caught three.

But Doe is a receiver, and until he can get passing targets, his punt-returner upside won't be enough to preserve his roster spot. And those target opportunities will dwindle in the next two preseason games, as those higher on the depth chart will begin to see more playing time.

The Steelers aren't hard up for a reserve receiver, having drafted Sammie Coates in Round 3 this year and considering veteran Darrius Heyward-Bey is an asset. And they have a number of capable punt returners as well. Doe's odds of sticking around are very slim.