The Pittsburgh Steelers have three practice squad openings to fill, and my picks are Jamin Davis, D’Shawn Jamison and Greg Crippen. After Pittsburgh’s final roster cuts, bringing those three back would give the team experienced defensive depth and another offensive lineman to develop.
The Steelers On SI tracker lists 14 additions, including the reported signing of Juanyeh Thomas. Julius Welschof’s international exemption allows Pittsburgh to carry 17 total, leaving room for three more. These are predictions for those vacancies, with Thomas included in the count.
Pittsburgh’s first 13 signings were players from its own camp, and I’m betting that preference continues. Several of the players Pittsburgh just cut are worth returning.
Three practice squad returns that would give Pittsburgh Steelers useful depth
Davis, 27, would be my first call. His strong preseason opener deserved attention, and he brings 37 NFL starts and experience that give Pittsburgh options at inside and outside linebacker. That’s worth another look after his release.
Forget getting excited about his old first-round label. What the Steelers like -- and why he was on the 90-man roster -- is that he's someone who could cover multiple linebacker assignments. With Malik Harrison and Elandon Roberts gone, I’d take that flexibility even with Welschof and Jacoby Windmon already back.
At cornerback, Jamison is the strongest case for keeping a player who actually proved he deserves a second shot. He recorded seven tackles in just 22 defensive snaps during his productive preseason finale against Buffalo. While that doesn’t make him a starting corner, it makes him hard to resist for the practice squad.
Pittsburgh also elevated Jamison for three regular-season games last season, including matchups against every AFC North opponent. He’s already handled the weekly transition from practice squad preparation to game-day duty. I’d happily keep that option available for the secondary and special teams.
Crippen is my least certain pick, but there’s a developmental argument that can be made. The rookie worked at center during camp, while Pittsburgh’s two current practice squad offensive linemen are Doug Nester and Steven Jones. Adding a young center would broaden that group’s positional coverage.
The interior offensive line depth does weaken his case. Zach Frazier, Ryan McCollum, and Brock Hoffman already provide center options on the active roster. Crippen would be an investment in practice reps and development, with no need to rush him onto the field.
If I were the Steelers, I’d much rather spend the last spot developing a blocker than collecting another receiver who can’t get enough reps with their existing deep group.
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