On a busy, transaction-filled day across the NFL landscape ahead of the trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Steelers continued to tweak around the fringes of the roster, particularly on the practice squad.
The Steelers announced the signings of cornerback Daequan Hardy and a familiar face in linebacker Mark Robinson to the practice squad, while releasing the likes of wide receiver John Rhys Plumlee and defensive end K.J. Henry.
The additional moves on the practice squad come on the same day that team announced the signing of wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, while releasing cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr.
Robinson circles back to the Steelers, where he was a seventh-round pick out of Ole Miss and spent the first three seasons of his career as a key special teams piece under coordinator Danny Smith. But after the Steelers drafted linebacker Carson Bruener in the seventh round out of Washington in the 2025 NFL Draft, Robinson found himself in a camp battle for a job, one he ultimately lost.
The Steelers released him on Aug. 28, and he eventually landed with the New England Patriots. Robinson played in the Week 3 matchup against the Steelers after being elevated to the active/inactive roster, but then was signed off of the practice squad to the New York Jets’ active roster on Sept. 23. He remained there until he was waived on Oct. 18.
Now, he circles back to Pittsburgh, shoring up depth at inside linebacker.
Robinson logged 645 snaps on special teams and added another 203 on defense, playing in primarily a run-stopping role, during his time with the Steelers. Robinson played just four defensive snaps in his time with the Jets and didn’t see any special teams reps.
The addition of Daequan Hardy gives the Steelers some serious speed and versatility on the practice squad. The Penn Hills native and Penn State product was a sixth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 NFL Draft and spent last season and all of training camp with the Bills before being released.
He hasn’t been with a team since but now lands with his hometown Steelers.
Coming out of Penn State, Alex Kozora highlighted Hardy’s speed and aggressive attitude at the position as major pluses, one that could have him as a slot corner and a kick/punt returner in the NFL.
In an interview with Steelers Depot as the 2024 Shrine Bowl in Dallas, Hardy stated he believes he is a plug and play cornerback who can do whatever is asked of him.
John Rhys Plumlee is out the door almost as fast as he came in the door last week. Plumlee signed to the practice squad last Wednesday, reuniting with the team that signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Central Florida after the 2024 NFL Draft.
He played quarterback and receiver in training camp last summer and even returned some kicks. But he was cut and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad, where he spent some time before landing with the Seattle Seahawks. After the 2024 season, Plumlee stuck with Seattle through training camp, but was waived in late August.
Henry spent just under a month with the Steelers on the practice squad, signing with the Steelers on Oct. 10 after working out for the franchise. Henry came into the NFL as a fifth-round pick by the Washington Commanders out of Clemson and has bounced around since.
Prior to signing with the Steelers, he was with the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, Henry is back on the market as the Steelers are healthy at outside linebacker once again.
With all eyes on the trade deadline at the moment, the Steelers are changing things up on the practice squad a bit. The release of Plumlee keeps the practice squad at three receivers following the addition of Valdes-Scantling, joining Max Hurleman and Isaiah Hodgins, while the additions of Hardy and Robinson give the Steelers five defensive backs (three corners, two safeties) and one off-ball linebacker on the 17-man practice squad.
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