Who will return kicks for the Steelers this season?
With the Steelers losing both Kenneth Gainwell and Calvin Austin III in free agency, they need new kick returners. Austin has been the team’s primary punt returner for most of his career, while Gainwell returns kicks last season. For a short period, they were intrigued by rookie WR Ke’Shawn Williams, whom they eventually released. Williams is still with the Bengals, so he’s not currently an option to bring back.
You might recall the Steelers used Kaleb Johnson as their kick returner to start last season. Would they dare consider that again? I wouldn’t bet on it. While they just signed special teamer Travis Homer, he hasn’t returned punts, and he has 19 kick returners. And he hasn’t returned a kick on purpose since 2020. He doesn’t even have familiarity with the major changes the past two years.
In the past, the Steelers have used Jaylen Warren as a kick returner, including eight returns last season. New RB Rico Dowdle has a little bit of kick return history, too, but not much. He, like Warren, returned eight kicks last season, so he at least knows how to execute the new rules.
One possible kick return option for the Steelers is WR Roman Wilson, entering his third season. He doesn’t have much return experience, either—six kick returns in college—but people can learn. And it could be a way for him to keep his job, which could be in jeopardy at this point.
Former Steelers HC Mike Tomlin was reluctant to allow defensive players to serve as kick returners. Last year’s seventh-round cornerback, Donte Kent, has some history as a punt returner in his senior season, though. He figures to be on the roster bubble, and this would be an obvious leg up.
Another intriguing option would be somebody like Max Hurleman, a player without a clearly defined position. A college free agent last year, the Steelers list him as RB, but he can be a kick returner among other things. With Travis Homer, it would be hard for Hurleman to squeeze onto the roster. But if they view him purely as a roster, they could find a spot for him. And, of course, there will be options in the draft, as well.
The Steelers exited the playoffs in the first round yet again, a pattern going back to 2017.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are facing another long, long offseason. No doubt we will see many changes, but none will top Mike Tomlin resigning.
The NFL has crowned its latest champion, but for us and the Steelers, we have been in offseason mode. That’s what happens when the team you coverloses by the middle of January all the time, but you’ve been around, so you know that already. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.
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