Steelers News: Justin Gilbert, Tyler Matakevich, DeAngelo Williams

Now that the Steelers have cut their roster down they’re ready for the regular season to start.

While the team prepares to take on Washington on Monday Night Football to kick of the 2016 regular season we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Sunday, Sept. 4^th.

The Steelers made a surprise move on Saturday in the midst of roster cuts. They traded a sixth-round 2018 draft pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for former first-rounder cornerback Justin Gilbert. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wonders what the Steelers saw out of Gilbert to prompt the trade.

More from Steelers News

• Steelers news: Kenny Pickett joins elite company, Diontae Johnson caves to peer pressure, and more
• 2022 Steelers provided a glimpse into the future and it is a bright one
• Grading the Steelers turbulent offense for the 2022 season
• Only one way DeAndre Hopkins trade to the Steelers could work
• Steelers news: Brian Flores interviewing with Browns, Cameron Heyward talks future, and more

The Browns took basically nothing in exchange for the former first-rounder which can mean many different things. First off, it’s hard to judge who is a good or bad player based on the fact that the Browns drafted him. They’re literally the worst at drafting and have been for quite some time.

Fowler also notes that he was in Cleveland for Gilbert’s rookie season (also the rookie season for Johnny Manziel) and remembers how Gilbert’s antics of being late for meetings and acting immaturely were actually less appreciated than those of Manziel. Huh.

Wonder if the Steelers can turn this thing around? Good thing they basically gave up nothing for him.

Dirty Red

Sometimes you focus on the cuts from the day the NFL teams have to reduce their rosters to 53 men but then you also look at the unsung heroes or longshots who actually did make the team. For the Steelers that is none other than linebacker Tyler “Dirty Red” Matakevich.

Steelers fans were pretty stoked to see that Matakevich made the roster.

He’s the man

Mike Tomlin made running back DeAngelo Williams the man for the final preseason game against his former team by naming him an honorary team captain. The PPG’s Ed Bouchette points out that Williams is now the man on the offense now that Le’Veon Bell will officially start his three-game suspension.

Next: Steelers final roster cuts

Williams started the first two games of last season while Bell served another suspension and also after Bell went down with his season-ending knee injury. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley is more than confident in Williams’ abilities to handle the starting role.

I think he’ll do just fine as well.