6 backend roster Steelers to watch during Hall of Fame game

With the Steelers’ first preseason game almost upon us, these six back of the roster players deserve a lot of looks as the team opens its season.

While the first preseason game is usually a slow trudge as starters sit and inexperienced players are thrust into action, there is a lot riding on it for the back of the roster players. A strong showing in their first outing can lead to more opportunities in camp as well as more snaps in later preseason games. Here are the six back of the roster players you have to keep your eyes on during the Steelers Hall of Fame Game.

Steelers Calvin Taylor

A name that has almost no newsworthy training camp stories so far, Calvin Taylor enters his second camp hoping to carve out a spot on the practice squad for himself. He was signed as an undrafted free agent last year and spent the majority of his first year on the practice squad. He is lauded for his sack total his senior year at Kentucky (8.5) as well as his immense size (6’9, 310 lbs.). He has mediocre athleticism and strength for a man of his size though, leading to significant limitations as a player.

With this defensive line group so deep though, he needs to show something during the Hall of Fame game to earn some more opportunities. If he flashes anything, from a decent pass rush to a good run stop, he could see his offseason role expand a little bit. If he continues to be a nonfactor, odds are he is cut outright sooner rather than later. If Taylor wants any shot at sticking on this roster, he needs to show up in the team’s first game.