The Pittsburgh Steelers claimed P Aidan Laros off waivers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced today. In a corresponding move, they released WR Brandon Johnson.
As a vested veteran, Johnson is not subject to waivers, and his contract was terminated.
Laros has yet to punt in an NFL game. He spent his collegiate career at Charlotte in 2023, not seeing any action as a punter, before transferring to U.T. Martin and later Kentucky. In two seasons at Kentucky, Laros punted 82 times and averaged 44.9 yards per punt. He had signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent.
Laros was waived when the Buccaneers signed K B.T. Potter yesterday. Potter spent time with the Steelers during training camp in 2023.
Laros grew up in South Africa and played rugby, he said in an interview with UK Sports Network in September.
He recently participated in a senior specialist showcase event prior to the NFL Draft.
Laros will provide competition for Cameron Johnston, whom the Steelers brought back on a one-year contract this offseason. He comes with a cap hit of $885,000, which is also his base salary this year.
Brandon Johnson was re-signed by the Steelers this offseason after spending parts of the last two seasons bouncing between the team’s active roster and practice squad. Johnson didn’t play for the Steelers last season but spent time on the practice squad. He appeared in three games in 2024 and caught one pass for nine yards.
Johnson has also spent time with the Denver Broncos, with his best season coming in 2023 when he had 19 receptions for 284 yards and four touchdowns.
The Steelers now have five specialists on their roster with LS Christian Kuntz and Cal Adomitis, K Chris Boswell, and Laith Marjan, along with Johnston. Johnston was signed by the Steelers as a free agent ahead of 2024, but he suffered a torn ACL in the Week 1 opener and was cut before last season. He was the only punter on Pittsburgh’s roster, and the team will add competition in Laros.
He’ll be with the Steelers as the team finishes out OTAs and will likely take part in their “rookie camp” next week before training camp begins in late July.
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