Updated 53 Man Roster Projections for Pittsburgh Steelers Post Preseason Week 4
Four of the Pittsburgh Steelers' five preseason games are over. The real work ahead will be to trim the roster down to its eventually 53 players. That begins this week, when the Steelers must reduce the roster from its current 90 players down to 75. Difficult decisions are ahead.
But with four preseason games in the books and training camp over, it becomes less difficult to attempt to predict who those final 53 men will be. Here is an updated projection of the Steelers' final roster with one preseason game left to play.
Quarterback
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Quarterbacks: Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Vick, Landry Jones
As they have for the last two seasons, the Steelers will keep three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. And like the previous two seasons, only two of them will be on the 46-man game-day roster.
The starter will be Ben Roethlisberger, and Michael Vick will be his primary backup now that the man who used to hold that job, Bruce Gradkowski, is on injured reserve. Meanwhile, Landry Jones will reprise his role as the No. 3 quarterback, but he won't be in uniform on game days unless something happens to either Roethlisberger or Vick.
Wide Receiver
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Wide Receiver: Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, Martavis Bryant, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Sammie Coates, Shakim Phillips
In an ideal world, the Steelers would prefer not to carry six wide receivers on the 53-man roster, but the four-game suspension that Martavis Bryant is set to serve to start the season forces them to at least consider one of their young receivers as a stopgap.
Darrius Heyward-Bey is the most likely of Pittsburgh's receivers to join Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton during Bryant's suspension, simply because he has the most experience. Rookie Sammie Coates could come on later in the year, much as Bryant did in 2014.
The final receiver spot could be a toss-up. Shakim Phillips is penciled in here, but C.J. Goodwin could also earn the job. If both make it through the first wave of roster cuts, they will be two players to watch in Week 5 of the preseason. They'll be battling it out.
Update: The Steelers announced on Monday that Goodwin was among the roster cuts to reduce the ranks to 75 payers.
Running Back
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Running Backs: Le'Veon Bell, DeAngelo Williams, Josh Harris, Dri Archer, Roosevelt Nix (FB), Will Johnson (FB)
It seems odd that the Steelers could keep two fullbacks on their roster, but Roosevelt Nix and Will Johnson bring different things to the table as blockers, runners and receivers, and Nix may not make it through waivers to reach the Steelers' practice squad. It's possible, though, that they try the move with Nix and hope it works.
Otherwise, Le'Veon Bell will reprise his starting role once he returns from his two-game suspension. DeAngelo Williams will start in Bell's absence and then take on a backup role for the rest of the year. Dri Archer, who seems to have the greatest upside as a returner, should also factor in as a runner and receiver at various points throughout the year.
The real wild card is Josh Harris, who has recently been sidelined with a foot injury. If it lingers, the Steelers may have no need for him, making him a late roster cut. If it doesn't, he has a strong shot at serving as the team's No. 3 back. But if Harris does not stick around, that could open the door for Jawon Chisholm to make the 53-man roster, or for the Steelers to pick up a back released by another team.
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Tight End
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Tight Ends: Heath Miller, Matt Spaeth
It's not looking like rookie tight end Jesse James is destined for the Steelers' 53-man roster this year. The practice squad appears to be a better place for him. Undrafted rookie Cameron Clear, meanwhile, has struggled so much that he could be cut outright (Update: The Steelers waived-injured Clear on Monday). That leaves the Steelers with just two tight ends capable of making the 53-man roster, but that becomes less of an issue if the team keeps its two fullbacks.
Heath Miller will continue to be a major part of Pittsburgh's offense as a blocker and receiver, while Matt Spaeth will reprise his primarily blocking role for this team. And if anything happens to either player, the Steelers will have the option of calling up James to the main roster.
Offensive Line
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Offensive Line: Marcus Gilbert, Ramon Foster, David DeCastro, Kelvin Beachum, Maurkice Pouncey, Cody Wallace, Doug Legursky (Mike Adams—PUP)
The most difficult decisions the Steelers will have to make regarding their 53-man roster will come along the offensive line. The big issue will be what to do about center Maurkice Pouncey, who underwent surgery for an ankle injury.
Head coach Mike Tomlin thinks that Pouncey could return at some point this season, which makes him a candidate for the injured reserve recall list. But in order for that to happen, he must be on the 53-man roster on September 5. That eats up a roster spot that could have been used at another position.
The Steelers' other 2014 starters on the line—guards Ramon Foster and David DeCastro and tackles Marcus Gilbert and Kelvin Beachum—are in no danger of losing their jobs. But the depth behind them is thin. Cody Wallace sticks, as he'll start at center in place of Pouncey, while Doug Legursky can back up nearly every position on the line.
Mike Adams, meanwhile, has been on the physically unable to perform list all summer after undergoing back surgery. That means he's PUP-list eligible for the start of the regular season. If he's on the reserve PUP list, he doesn't count against the 53-man roster, but once he's called up—which could be as early as Week 6, based on the league's rules—the Steelers will have to find roster space at that time.
Update: The Steelers placed Adams on the reserve PUP to open the season, on Monday.
Defensive Line
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Defensive Line: Steve McLendon, Stephon Tuitt, Cameron Heyward, Daniel McCullers, Cam Thomas, Ethan Hemer
Nose tackle Steve McLendon has a surgically repaired shoulder and should be more productive this year. But the Steelers will likely find ways to get Daniel McCullers more involved in the defense in his second season. The defensive end position is equally solidified, with Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt the certain starters.
The only question is the sprained ankle that Tuitt suffered in the preseason. It's not a high-ankle sprain and last week, Tuitt himself called it "just a little sprain," so he may be ready for Week 1. If not, Cam Thomas will start in his place. Though Thomas is mostly an on-field disappointment, he has more on-field experience than any of the Steelers' other defensive ends and will likely get a roster spot as a result.
Right now, Ethan Hemer appears to be the young defensive lineman with the highest chance to serve as depth for the Steelers. But they could also keep rookie L.T. Walton on the 53-man roster in place of Hemer or alongside him, should the Steelers take a roster spot away from another position. If they don't, expect Walton to be a practice-squad player.
Linebacker
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Linebacker: James Harrison, Bud Dupree, Arthur Moats, Jarvis Jones, Lawrence Timmons, Sean Spence, Ryan Shazier, Vince Williams, Terence Garvin, L.J. Fort
Because of injuries, a number of once-marginal Steelers linebackers look like they could make the 53-man roster.
In a typical situation, the team would be unlikely to keep Sean Spence, Vince Williams and Terence Garvin all at the reserve inside linebacker position. But Lawrence Timmons is currently battling turf toe, an injury that has the potential to linger all year long, while fellow starter Ryan Shazier dealt with a number of injuries during his rookie season.
Having quality depth behind the two will be necessary this year. It's also worth noting that Garvin is a key special teams contributor and can be moved to outside linebacker in a pinch.
At outside linebacker, the Steelers will be relying on James Harrison, Arthur Moats and Jarvis Jones, with rookie Bud Dupree working himself into the rotation. That plan may have suffered a setback, though, as Dupree left Saturday's game against the Buffalo Bills with a foot injury.
Because of this, recently signed outside linebacker L.J. Fort is awarded a roster spot, at least to start the season. That spot could end up going to Anthony Chickillo. But if it doesn't, Chickillo will be on the practice squad.
Cornerback
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Cornerback: Cortez Allen, William Gay, Brandon Boykin, Antwon Blake, Kevin Fogg, B.W. Webb
Between Cortez Allen, William Gay, Brandon Boykin and Antwon Blake, the Steelers should have three starter-worthy cornerbacks. Now, it's about building up depth.
Kevin Fogg and B.W. Webb have both had strong preseasons and could land spots on the 53-man roster. Rookie Senquez Golson, meanwhile, underwent shoulder surgery earlier this month after spending all summer on the physically unable to perform list. He is a candidate for injured reserve. Fellow rookie cornerback Doran Grant, meanwhile, could head to the practice squad for 2015.
Safety
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Safety: Mike Mitchell, Shamarko Thomas, Will Allen, Robert Golden, Ross Ventrone
Mike Mitchell and Shamarko Thomas will serve as the Steelers' starting safeties this year, with veteran Will Allen capable of filling in for either if called upon. The bigger question marks are at safety depth.
Robert Golden seems to have his roster spot locked down, which means the Steelers will have to choose between summertime surprises Ian Wild and Alden Darby and special teams stalwart Ross Ventrone. Ventrone, who missed nearly all of the team's training camp, has only recently gotten back into the swing of things at practice.
This battle could go in a number of directions. Right now, the edge goes to Ventrone, because the team has liked him for some time now. But Wild or Darby—who can also play special teams—could edge him out next week.
Update: Wild was among the players subject to the Steelers' first wave of roster cuts on Monday.
Special Teams
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Special Teams: Kicker, Unknown; Punter, Jordan Berry; Long Snapper, Greg Warren
The Steelers brought on veteran free-agent kicker Garrett Hartley after Shaun Suisham suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first preseason game of the summer. But it looks like the Steelers could already be in the market for another kicker after Hartley injured his hamstring on Saturday against the Buffalo Bills.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said that Hartley would undergo an MRI but added, "It doesn't look good, obviously." It's unknown who will replace Hartley at this time.
At punter, it appears that Jordan Berry is edging out incumbent Brad Wing. Berry averaged 58.3 yards per punt against the Bills and handled kickoff duties after Hartley's injury. His hangtime is impressive, and his versatility is useful, so the kid may get the nod as early as this week.
Update: The Steelers traded a 2016 sixth-round pick on Monday to acquire kicker Josh Scobee from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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