Veteran playmaker Cordarrelle Patterson was just cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he wasn't about to wait for a high-profile beat reporter to break the news. Instead, Patterson mocked the team for their decision to release him on his day off.
Patterson announced his release on X after a troublesome start to training camp. Despite him missing a good chunk of training camp, some thought he had a shot to stick on the roster.
Breaking news❗️❗️❗️Pittsburgh Steelers release old washed up cordarrelle patterson on his day off!!!
— cordarrelle patterson (@ceeflashpee84) July 28, 2025
Injuries are common throughout the preseason process. Players pop up on the injury report during training camp, and it takes luck to witness a healthy roster when the regular season starts. It is not easy for those roster bubble players to win a job when a nagging injury is lurking. The Pittsburgh Steelers have struggled to see what they had left from Patterson because of it.
His chances of making the team were slim heading into camp and declined further due to missed time. Patterson couldn't get healthy fast enough, and the writing was on the wall. The Steelers valued the player's versatility, but it didn't matter since his lack of production, infused with injury problems, created a toxic outcome.
The veteran Swiss-Army-Knife failed to do much during the early days of training camp.
Extending his career will require overcoming significant challenges. He is getting older, which means his chances will be limited. It wasn't a great tenure for the aging veteran.
The Pittsburgh Steelers finally part ways with veteran RB Cordarrelle Patterson
Ultimately, cutting Patterson was the obvious decision. He will save the team money when the release is official, which they could use. He isn't a young player anymore, and they couldn't assume he would turn things around in his second year with the team. With Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, and Kenneth Gainwell in front of him on the depth chart, there was no way he would make the roster barring injury.
READ MORE: Steelers dismiss longstanding veteran in this 53-man roster prediction
The Steelers will save $2.8 million after signing Patterson's release papers. His ability to play running back and receiver is nice in theory, but he wasn't great at either position. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was a key cog in bringing the veteran playmaker to the team, but things never panned out.
Sometimes, ending a relationship is best for both parties, and that is the case here.
It didn't make sense for the Steelers to hold onto Patterson to this point. The veteran returner struggled to produce much past the first month of last season. He carried a significant cap hit for the role he played on the depth chart last year. It made sense for Pittsburgh to cut him during the early days of the offseason, but it became obvious at training camp.
Patterson is 34 years old, and his raw talent from earlier in his career has faded. His nagging injury at the start of training camp has diminished any chance of making the roster in Pittsburgh. It's possible he could salvage his losses and make another team around the NFL if he can quickly turn things around. There were plenty of options in front of him on the depth chart who are better.