2022 Steelers Season Recall: 53-man roster creates controversy
Steel City Underground presents our 2022 Steelers Recall: a look back at Pittsburgh Steelers games and storylines from last season.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says depth charts don’t mean anything during training camp. They are a formality required by the NFL.
However, when the first regular season depth chart came out, it included what many called a typo. It was among several surprises as the Steelers finished camp and the roster was trimmed to 53 players.
The start of those surprises was, in fact, the quarterbacks. But it was seventh round draft pick Chris Oladokun, who took few camp reps and none in exhibition games, who would be let go. LB Genard Avery, signed as potential depth at outside linebacker, was also released early.
The QB competition news didn’t stop there however. The Steelers were linked to potentially trading former 2018 third round pick Mason Rudolph. As camp wore on, rookie Kenny Pickett started to eat into Rudolph’s reps. However, Rudolph not only made the team, but was somehow listed as a backup to Mitchell Trubisky (who was no surprise as the Week 1 starter).
Tomlin came out in his presser one day later and acknowledged the “typo”, which was quickly corrected to list Pickett as QB2 and Rudolph as QB3.
On the running backs depth chart undrafted newcomer Jaylen Warren leaped his way into the backup role behind Najee Harris, as Anthony McFarland was the surprise snub in favor of Benny Snell – the latter of whom did not impress much during limited preseason action.
On the offensive line, Kevin Dotson won the left guard job over Kendrick Green, while Joe Haeg was cut in favor of picking up another journeyman, Jesse Davis.
SCU favorite, TE Kevin Rader, was also released as the team retained Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry, and rookie Connor Heyward on their tight ends depth chart.
The receiver room was bloated, initially, as seven players made the first roster. This was due to Calvin Austin III being injured in camp: had he not “made” the team (the initial 53 that is) he could not be placed on IR and also return during the 2022 season. Some thought Miles Boykin could be get the axe too, but he made the team along with Steven Sims. They joined Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, George Pickens, and Gunner Olszewski.
The defensive line also kept seven players, with none being tremendous shockers as to which made the cut. But the linebacker corps saw a boost when the Steelers traded for Malik Reed from the Denver Broncos to backup T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. The veteran entered Pittsburgh with 34 career starts as Marcus Allen was released to make room for him. (Derrek Tuszka also made the team for a short spell too.)
In the secondary, former third round pick Justin Layne fell short of making the roster over his peers, including undrafted former “camp phenom” James Pierre.
As for the specialists, the usual suspects all retained their positions following camp including second-year punter Pressley Harvin III.
The transaction wire wasn’t finished on August 30th, however, as the Steelers swung back around and moved Marcus Allen and Trent Scott back to the active roster after placing Austin and Demontae Kazee on Injured Reserve.
Those would be the prominent moves aside from some practice squad signings, which included McFarland returning as well. The team would be formulated and begin work on their game plan for Week 1’s road trip to face the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals. That’s where we’ll leave off until next time!
