We are a little under two weeks away until players must report to Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College. The following day is the start of fans showing up in droves as they get amped up for some football. There are always some storylines that develop before, during, and after camp that will help shape this roster.
There are a handful of players that could be on the roster bubble heading into training camp that some might not imagine. Obvious choices are still there, but many experts also think that some players on the bubble have a better chance to make this team than fans give them credit for. This pre-season should be interesting to watch as those last couple of spots on the final 53-man roster shake out.
Look out for a special teamer to potentially be a roster bubble player this pre-season
Competition could change the structure of the specialists on the Steelers completely. Chris Boswell will be back but both Pressley Harvin III and Christian Kuntz could get some scares along the way. Of the three, it seems like Harvin could struggle to keep his job most. There are certain things to like about his game, but he is too inconsistent where it matters most.
A punter's job is the direct outcome of the field position in a game. They could single-handedly change that field position in your favor or against you. Harvin has been too inconsistent to make the kicking part of his game consistent enough. He has a real challenger in Braden Mann, but Harvin's holding ability might be enough to keep him around.
A veteran returner could find his job in jeopardy with the Steelers if he struggles
One name that seemed to be a cap casualty earlier in the offseason has found its way to the pre-season portion of the football calendar. Gunner Olszewski had a rocky year just a season ago and it seemed like things just were not meant to work out between this player and the team. Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin have decided to be patient with this decision.
Olszewski has been a quality returner in his career before and the Steelers hope that last year was just an odd blimp on his radar. Keeping him around and challenging for the top returner spot might be the best approach. If all else fails and he is not able to bounce back, then he will not make the final 53-man roster this time around.
Last season's struggles did come as a surprise to many as Olszewski was able to show some quality play throughout the pre-season. Once games started to count, he was not able to replicate his success. He does account for a higher number against the cap and could alleviate some extra spending cash if the black and gold decide to move on.
Make no mistake about it, this returner is on the roster bubble as he heads into camp. He has a lot of work ahead of himself to make this club as either a returner or a receiver. Calvin Austin III will try his best to jump ahead of him on the roster, but so will others towards to bottom of the depth chart. Olszewski is a name to monitor as training camp pushes further.
It is time to take the next step or cut bait with this young cornerback
Some shocking cuts could come when the Steelers have to chop off some players to get down to the 53 limit. The secondary is going to have a good number of players cut that have been on this club for the past several years. Safety will be a place to keep a close eye on, but cornerback could be another outcome that shocks many.
James Pierre has been with the club since signing with them as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He is now entering his third season in the NFL, which all have been with Pittsburgh. Many thought that his role might have a chance to expand this year, but that has been mostly squashed with the handful of additions this past offseason.
His potential to start is slim, but he has been able to provide starts to this defense in the past. That experience will help him in training camp, plus he plays special teams too. Unless someone like Levi Wallace is dealt via trade, it seems like Pierre will have to fight off a couple of different players to try and sneak onto this roster.
When you look over the current situation at cornerback, it seems that Pierre will have to beat out the likes of Cory Trice Jr. and Luq Barcoo for the last spot on the team. It is possible that all three lose out to one of the final spots to a safety that shows enough position flexibility. Pierre's presence on special teams cannot be discounted, but his job is in hot water heading into the preseason.
The Steelers could focus on trading or releasing this former starter on the roster bubble
The biggest weakness on the black and gold heading into the offseason was the offensive line. Khan and the front office were focused on fixing those issues and that led to plenty of free agents and rookies being brought onto the roster. The Steelers might not have solved every question mark across the trenches, but they have provided options that could become solid contributors.
One of the stronger parts of the offensive line is across the interior of the group. Guard is especially deep with talent and that could make certain players expendable when it is all said and done. Kevin Dotson could be one of those players as the starting guard from last year lost his job once Isaac Seumalo was signed in free agency.
Now that the left guard spot is anchored by Seumalo and the right side is held up by James Daniels, Dotson has become more of a moveable piece. The Steelers would seem to be foolish to cut Dotson just because he is not starting. He is a quality backup with a lot of experience with this club. It could get interesting if he got some trade interest around training camp.
It might still be the best bet to keep him around in case an injury was to occur to either starter at guard. Dotson seems to be a little annoyed by the fact that the team brought in a replacement for him as a starter. That could create a demanded release for the black and gold, which could put a whole new wrinkle into this story.