The Pittsburgh Steelers made difficult decisions at the bottom of the roster when the deadline struck at 4 pm on Tuesday, but so far, their best laid plans have come to fruition.
The Steelers had no players they cut that were claimed on waivers, allowing them to fill their practice squad with players who put in a solid summer at camp, but not quite enough to make the team. Among those cuts was defensive lineman/edge rusher DeMarvin Leal. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers have signed Leal back to the practice squad.
Leal is entering his fourth season out of Texas A&M. He’s struggled to stick at a position in Pittsburgh that fits his body frame and his skillset, but he’s a talent the team has had high hopes for since they selected him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
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On the practice squad, Leal will give the Steelers some much-needed insurance on the defensive edge. Both Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig have had injuries pop up this summer, and TJ Watt doesn’t exactly have a clean health record in his career either. With fourth-round pick Jack Sawyer being the only other edge, many thought Leal could sneak onto the roster just to provide depth in a key spot where injuries always seem to play a part.
Of course, Leal won’t be active on gameday, and other teams can still try to steal him off the Steelers' practice squad. Still, there’s no doubt the Steelers will do everything they can to keep him in the building.
Nonetheless, it’s somewhat curious that Leal didn’t find opportunities elsewhere. His career in Pittsburgh has been quiet; he has just one career sack, but that largely comes down to the scheme and his fit in it. Leal has bounced from down lineman to edge a few times over the past three seasons, and hasn’t quite fit at either spot.
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His going unclaimed on the waiver wire isn’t too much of a surprise as a fourth-year player with little production, but if a team with a four-man front didn’t kick the tires on him while he was available, it’d be a bit more surprising. Certainly, though, the Steelers didn’t leave that window open for long.
Heading into he season, though, the Steelers have to feel a lot better with having five edge defenders they like and trust available when they need them. Hopefully, Leal doesn’t have to come off the practice squad this season, and everyone stays healthy. But it’s good to know he’s there if the Steelers need some help.