5 Steelers quickly losing leverage on 2021 roster spots

With preseason already halfway through, these five Steelers’ once secure roster spots are suddenly falling apart.

The Steelers are halfway through their preseason, and the final state of their roster is finally starting to come together. While most of the names are not surprises, there have been quite a few players that have exceeded expectations and are now fighting for a better role with the team or even just to make the team altogether. Likewise, there are some players who seemed locked into a certain role on the team before disappointing and now fighting to maintain that role. Here are the five Steelers that are losing leverage on their roster spots.

Steelers B.J. Finney

When the Steelers only added B.J. Finney to the interior offensive line before the draft, it seemed more likely than not that he would see the field as a starting center for the team as a rookie was groomed to take over. This was cemented when the team drafted Kendrick Green in the third round, indicating that he would likely need some time to develop. To say camp hasn’t gone Finney’s way though would be an understatement.

Green has manned down the center spot (albeit it is more due to the other options being that bad as opposed to him playing at an elite level) and behind him has been J.C. Hassenenauer. Finney has guard capabilities as well, but fellow offseason addition Rashaad Coward has been the hot name there so far in camp. While Kevin Dotson did finally jump him on the depth chart, the team was comfortable enough with him running with the first-team offensive line.

Finney is in a weird spot now. He went from a potential starter to a viable swing offensive lineman, and now to just fighting to make the roster. While he could still make the roster as the ninth man, he is far from a lock halfway through camp. He needs to turn it around for the remainder of camp if he wants to be with the team once the regular season starts.