The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted two quarterbacks and three wide receivers for a workout on Tuesday. Per the NFL transaction log, the Steelers worked out QBs Jason Bean and Taylor Mordecai, as well as WRs Cole Burgess, Elijah Cooks and Cornell Powell.
With QB Aaron Rodgers suffering a wrist injury, the Steelers have just two healthy quarterbacks in Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. If Rodgers can’t go on Sunday, the team may look to sign a quarterback to the practice squad they could potentially elevate to serve as the emergency third quarterback. Usually, when a team works out a quarterback, they bring in receivers for them to throw to.
Bean began his collegiate career at North Texas before transferring to Kansas. He threw for a career-high 2,130 yards and 18 touchdowns with the Jayhawks in 2023, and signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. Bean was also a participant in the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl. While Bean was the first overall pick in the 2024 UFL Draft, he never played in the UFL, and was released by the Colts in their final round of roster cuts before this season.
At his Pro Day, he measured in at 6016 and 196 pounds and ran a 4.56 40-yard dash. The 26-year-old went 14-24 for 144 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the 2025 preseason. In the 2024 preseason, Bean went 15-19 for 197 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Mordecai played his college ball at Oklahoma, SMU and Wisconsin and was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. He was a full-time starter for SMU in 2021 and 2022, throwing for over 3,000 yards in both seasons, but interceptions were an issue, as he threw 22 over those two seasons. He went 6-4 as Wisconsin’s starter in 2023, throwing for 2,066 yards and nine touchdowns. Mordercai was waived/injured by the 49ers in August.
Alex Kozora did a scouting report on Mordecai ahead of the ’24 draft, comparing him to former Buffalo Bills QB J.P. Losman.
Mordecai measured in at 6015 and 215 pounds at his Pro Day, running a 4.53 40-yard dash.
Burgess was a small school prospect out of Cortland State who signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. He signed a reserve/futures contract with the team in January, but was waived during their final roster cuts. He’s yet to play in an NFL game.
At his Pro Day, Burgess measured in at 6004 and 192 pounds and vertical jumped 41 1/2″ while running a 4.46 40-yard dash.
Cooks signed as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars following the 2023 NFL Draft, and he’s also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles released him from their practice squad in September, but the San Jose State product has appeared in 11 NFL games with three receptions for 38 yards in his career.
At San Jose State’s Pro Day, Cooks measured in at 6036 and 219 pounds and ran a 4.51 40-yard dash.
Powell appeared in three games with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. He was a fifth round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Clemson, where he won two national championships. Powell also spent time with the DC Defenders in 2025, where he won a title in the UFL, making him the first player to win a National Championship, a UFL Championship and a Super Bowl. He has two Super Bowl rings from his time in Kansas City, and was most recently a member of the Houston Texans.
Josh Carney praised Powell as a glue guy in his scouting report.
It’s worth noting the Steelers also announced the signing of QB/WR John Rhys Plumlee to their practice squad, who was with the team during training camp last season and spent time on their practice squad this season. Plumlee is also capable of being elevated to serve as the emergency third quarterback, but the team got a look at some other options today.
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