Making a 53-man roster is a dream for all NFL players, but just because they cracked the initial 53 doesn't mean they will stick around. There are several members of the Pittsburgh Steelers who must be careful as the season quickly approaches.
Although the initial 53-man unit is set to league regulations, there are key players on the roster bubble who might still be jobless soon.
Making an NFL roster is an accomplishment in itself, but staying with the team for the entire campaign ahead is a tall task. The Steelers seem to be dropping hints that they could be tweaking their team in the coming days with roster cuts and replacements for those players who get let go. This will be an interesting couple of days as alterations already appear to be on the way.
Pittsburgh Steelers have several players on the bubble despite making the 53-man roster
Eli Heidenreich, RB
It was a great story to see Pittsburgh's own Eli Heidenreich earn a spot on the initial roster, but in truth, he didn't do much to earn it. With Kaleb Johnson getting traded, the easy path was holding onto their final pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. Don't expect Heidenreich to stick around for much longer.
He should be near the top of their list of potential roster cuts if they need to make a transaction.
Kevin Jobity Jr., DL
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the 53-man roster was undrafted free agent Kevin Jobity Jr. making the club. He did show some quality play this summer, but nothing that made him a clear shot at making the 53-man roster. Expect him to potentially be the first to go whenever the Steelers need to make room on the team. He didn't do enough to stick on the official roster for this upcoming season.
Will Howard, QB
They finally did it, as Pittsburgh officially held onto four quarterbacks on the unit. It's the first time this has happened in a long time, but that initial shock could wear off in a hurry. Will Howard appears to be the odd man out if the team ever needs to open up a spot. His preseason left a lot to be desired, and holding onto four quarterbacks could become a luxury the club cannot afford moving forward.
Robert Spears-Jennings, S
After a strong summer, rookie Robert Spears-Jennings earned his spot on the initial 53-man roster.
Out of this group, he might be one of the players with the best odds of sticking on the team for the entire season ahead. The safety position is weak for the Steelers, especially when it comes to depth. If the team adds an outside hire to boost the position, it could force the rookie off the club.
Ryan McCollum, C
Other than Brock Hoffman as an option to play center, there are no real center options for the group except for Zach Frazier and Ryan McCollum. Hoffman is more of a versatile interior depth piece, and McCollum is a veteran whom the team is comfortable with. The Steelers would probably be okay with McCollum backing up Frazier this year, but if they locate an upgrade, he could be the first to go.
Gabriel Rubio, DL
After some questionable picks during the draft this past spring, all ten of the Steelers' selections made the initial 53-man roster. Despite much ridicule for being their sixth-round pick, Gabriel Rubio found a way to make the team. He is an interesting option to potentially become a strong depth piece in the trenches. Rubio remains on the roster bubble in case the club finds someone better.
Mason Rudolph, QB
Maybe Mason Rudolph is safe from roster cuts, but that doesn't mean he is safe on the Steelers just yet.
There has been a ton of trade activity in the NFL recently, and some of those deals revolved around the quarterback position. Since Will Howard played poorly during the preseason, it appears that Rudolph's roster spot is safe, but if a trade offer blows them away, Pittsburgh has to consider it.
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