As was expected, the Pittsburgh Steelers released Robert Woods at his request. The longtime veteran wide receiver wants to be included on a team's 53-man roster, and being on the Steelers' practice squad was definitely a step back for him.
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It is a bit strange that the Steelers did not keep Woods on the practice squad, considering one of their current roster questions is at the pass-catching position.
Who are the Wide Receivers on the Steelers' 53-man Roster?
DK Metcalf leads the group, alongside Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller, and Ben Skowronek.
Of the group, only Metcalf has achieved 1,000 yards in a season. Woods would have been the second, but he was instead signed to the practice squad.
Instead of going with another veteran talent, the Steelers are rolling with a younger group. Austin should be the premier option alongside Metcalf, but beyond that , there are some questions.
With Woods requesting his release and being granted it, the Steelers have already found his replacement in Lance McCutcheon.
According to Mike DeGabo, the Steelers released Woods and signed McCutcheon to the practice squad to fill his spot.
Who is Steelers' New WR Lane McCutcheon?
McCutcheon has been in the NFL since 2022, but that was the only season when he was added to the 53-man roster. In the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he was a member of the practice squad for the Houston Texans, New York Jets, and Steelers.
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McCutcheon does have familiarity with this Steelers team, which is probably a big reason why he was re-signed to replace Woods. Whether or not he gets playing time in the regular season remains to be seen.
The Steelers have talent in the pass catching department, as Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith also serve as weapons for Aaron Rodgers. The issue is that the team might need more help as the season progresses.
Week 1 is nearly here, and the first outing against the New York Jets will be very telling. If no receiver can step up in a big way apart from Metcalf and Austin, expect Omar Khan to find some more veteran talent for the Steelers.
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