10 Steelers who showed enough to make the practice squad this year

The Steelers' roster is about to be trimmed, and a slew of players will be free agents and eligible to be claimed by another team. Once that dust settles, squads will be busy filling out their practice squads with players that they see potential in. This is what most of these players have been playing for during training camp.

The Steelers are no exception, as they have a 91-man roster that will need to be cut back to 53 by Tuesday afternoon. While their practice squad won’t be entirely made up of their own players, a good chunk of them will be due to their experience with the team. Here are x Steelers who may not have been good enough for the roster this year, but should land on the team’s practice squad.

QB John Rhys Plumlee

No one has been as versatile this offseason as undrafted free agent John Rhys Plumlee. He played both receiver and quarterback in school and kept that position flexibility with the Steelers. In addition to serving as a fourth quarterback, he saw practice reps at receiver and was a constant in the return game. His versatility should award him a spot on the practice squad, and long term he could have some Taysom Hill potential.

RB Jonathan Ward

The running back battle among the last few names never turned into the sleeper battle I was hoping for. That said, Jonathan Ward looked like the best of the bunch, and he is the only name I feel confident in making the practice squad right now. He can serve as a fine third running back in injury situations this year if needed.

FB Jack Colletto

I thought there was a fighting chance that Jack Colletto made some noise as a traditional fullback for this offense, but that never materialized. He looked good when called upon but never did much on special teams and doesn’t warrant an active roster spot. He can stick around in case of injury though.

WR Scotty Miller

I don’t see the value of having Scotty Miller on the active roster right now, as I think Dez Fitzpatrick is the better overall fit for a depth receiver. That said, Miller flashed some ability as a receiver at times and can be offensive insurance for the time being. He isn’t great, but he can fill in for a few games when needed.

WR Jaray Jenkins

The most prominent unknown this offseason, Jaray Jenkins looked good going up against some of the lesser talent in the NFL. He has a lot more to prove, but he earned a year on the practice squad to hone his skills and, eventually, make a push as a depth receiver for a team.

TE Rodney Williams

Rodney Williams was battling for the final depth spot at tight end for most of the offseason. Towards the very end of things though, it became clear that he was losing that race. He is a good asset on special teams and can serve as a receiver in a pinch, so the practice squad makes the most sense for him.

DL Logan Lee

Logan Lee is here less for his play this offseason and more to give him some time to develop. The rest of the Steelers' depth options showed up during training camp and the preseason, and while Lee was never horrible, he failed to produce close to their level. A year on the practice squad makes sense for the sixth-round pick.

EDGE Julius Welschof

Julius Welschof looked like a safe bet to make the practice squad due to his international exemption, meaning that the team can carry him and he won’t count towards the practice squad limits. He also played well all things considered and is worth developing. A year there before trying his hand at a depth spot makes the most sense.

LB Jacoby Windmon

Another undrafted free agent, Jacoby Windmon didn’t have a lot of opportunities in a crowded linebacker room, but he looked ok late in games. The hope would be for him to make the most of some practice time and try for a backup spot next year. He also needs to get better on special teams, but he is worth developing.

DB Ryan Watts

Ryan Watts had a really strong start to training camp, but the shift in position has left him still learning a new role. He also didn’t excel on special teams, so keeping him on the roster right now isn’t necessary. Give him a year to try and learn his new role before expecting him to develop into a depth defender.