A year ago, Beanie Bishop Jr. was in the middle of a four-interception season. Statistically, a rare one for a Pittsburgh Steelers rookie cornerback. Today, he’s a free agent and hoping for his next NFL chance. Released yesterday in a move that surprised many fans, Mike Tomlin declined to explain why Bishop was let go.
“I’m not getting into practice squad decisions,” Tomlin said Tuesday via the team’s YouTube channel. “That’s just too far down the totem pole. I’m more interested in what we need to do this week and the guys that are on the 53 we’re preparing to play.”
It was worthwhile to ask about Bishop’s release, but Tomlin’s answer was predictable. Rarely does he offer a transparent answer for any of the team’s roster subtractions, especially when it comes to the practice squad. Though Bishop was a regular contributor for the first half of 2024 before Cam Sutton returned from suspension and assumed the starting slot corner spot, the former undrafted free agent hadn’t played a single snap in 2025. The Steelers waived him during final cutdowns and signed him to their practice squad instead.
Pittsburgh filled Bishop’s spot Tuesday. The Steelers signed CB Daequan Hardy, a Pittsburgh-area native, as part of several practice squads moves. An undersized corner, Hardy played in the slot at Penn State and in preseason action this past summer with the Buffalo Bills.
With Jalen Ramsey remaining at safety, it seemed plausible the Steelers would add cornerback depth by signing someone like Bishop to the 53-man roster. As of this writing ahead of the trade deadline, Pittsburgh has just a 52-man roster. Instead, Bishop was given his walking papers.
It’s unlikely the true reason will be made known, though Bishop has dabbled in content creation and may one day share his side of the story. The reality is the answer is probably less interesting than any speculation could conjure up. Bishop was a practice squader without a clear path to the 53-man roster, and his career had been sliding since being replaced midway through last season. Teams are always evaluating their own rosters and what’s available in free agency and Pittsburgh thought there was an upgrade to be had.
That’s the life of players in Bishop’s position. Here today, gone tomorrow. He’ll continue that next step by getting on the tryout circuit and finding a new place to call home.
Recommended for you