It’s that time of year when players begin to fight for their football lives. Only 53 roster spots are up for grabs, and just like any other year, most of them are already accounted for. That is no different for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
There are a number of players poised to surprise at camp and avoid getting that quick, unfortunate meeting that would end their journey in Pittsburgh. But others won’t be so fortunate.
Whether these players are cut for financial, depth chart reasons, or just poor performances, these five notable players at the bottom of the roster won’t be with the team this time next month.
These current Pittsburgh Steelers face an uphill battle at training camp
Running Back Cordarrelle Patterson
It’s sort of easy to forget that Patterson is still on the roster. His 2024 season with Pittsburgh was largely unremarkable. He only made 32 rushing attempts last season for 135 yards, 12 catches for 80 yards and a score, and returned 11 kicks for an average of 21.8 yards per return. That was the worst average of his career. In all, he played just 174 snaps for the Steelers last year.
Patterson is likely to be cut since the Steelers invested in the running back room in free agency with Kenneth Gainwell and the draft with Kaleb Johnson. Both players figure to spell Jaylen Warren throughout the season. The Steelers also brought in Trey Sermon at the bottom of the depth chart, which is ultimately who Patterson is competing with to keep his job.
Patterson has clearly lost a step, and at 34 years old, he’s not worth keeping around despite being a favorite of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Wide Receiver Scotty Miller
Scotty Miller was up and down the Steelers roster in 2024. He started a game, was cut near the end of the season, and was ultimately brought back. Still, he hasn’t captured the magic of what looked to be a bit of a breakout season in 2020. Could he find the same magic with Aaron Rodgers as he did with Tom Brady? It’s not likely.
Miller is buried on the depth chart behind Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson, two players the Steelers have higher hopes for as early draft investments. When it comes time for cuts, Miller doesn’t hold the special teams value that Ben Skowronek brings, leaving him to battle with undrafted options like Roc Taylor and Ke’Shawn Williams if the Steelers choose to carry six wideouts. If that’s the case, and either of those options proves more enticing, Miller could head back to the free agent pool once again.
Defensive Lineman DeMarvin Leal
The Steelers could use all the depth they can keep on the defensive line, but it seems like Leal is losing his grip on filling that role. Logan Lee and Isaiahh Loudermilk seem more reliable as Cam Heyward and Derrick Harmon’s backups, and if the Steelers keep a seventh defensive lineman, which seems unlikely, Dean Lowry has a real shot of pushing Leal out the door.
Pittsburgh certainly had higher hopes for Leal, a third-round pick in 2022, but he hasn’t been able to fit into any one spot on the defensive front, whether on the edge or with his hand in the turf. With just one sack and three tackles for loss in three seasons, the Steelers are out of patience with Leal.
Linebacker Mark Robinson
Much like Leal, Mark Robinson has been an intriguing experiment in Pittsburgh who hasn’t yielded much results. Last season was a quiet one for Robinson as he played almost exclusively on special teams. Granted, his 603 special teams snaps over the past two seasons could be his saving grace when the final cuts are made.
However, the Steelers drafted a seventh-round linebacker this season in Carson Breuner out of Washington. Unlike Robinson, Breuner carries more experience at the position, even if he isn’t quite as athletic. Between Breuner and the return of Cole Holcomb, there simply may not be enough space at linebacker to justify holding onto Robinson any longer.
Punter Corliss Waitman
There’s no denying that Corliss Waitman filled in well for Cameron Johnston after he suffered a season-ending leg injury. However, there’s only space for one punter, and the incumbent starter is back at the top of the depth chart.
Still, Waitman and Johnston will have a battle for the position in camp, but with Johnston leaving dead money for the front office if he’s cut, he has a slight advantage on the business side. Either way, Waitman averaged 46.6 yards per punt last year, an average Johnston hasn’t dipped under since 2019. Unless Johnston's injury creates a huge drop-off in his capabilities, Waitman will be out of a job in Pittsburgh.