The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2026 offseason practices concluded in the middle of June. Next up is the team’s annual training camp, which will get underway in late July at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.
Ahead of that, we will preview the team’s offseason roster three players at a time as part of a multi-post series. This Steelers 90-in-30 roster preview, which includes outlooks for every player, is organized alphabetically by last name for an easy follow-along.
This series figures to exceed 90 players this year as the team can carry 91 players during the offseason due to the allowance of one international player designation.
The next three players we will preview ahead of Steelers 2026 training camp are: OLB Jack Sawyer, WR Ben Skowronek, and CB Doneiko Slaughter.
OLB Jack Sawyer: After being selected by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, Sawyer went on to play in every game for Pittsburgh during his rookie season.
In total, Sawyer registered 34 total regular season tackles, three tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, two interceptions, one sack, and four passes defensed as a rookie. When it comes to Sawyer’s playing time as a rookie, he logged 294 snaps on defense during the regular season and 340 more on special teams. Of his 34 total tackles, 14 of those came on special teams.
Swayer’s play again the run as a rookie outside linebacker in Pittsburgh, while inconsistent at times, was the best part of his game throughout the 2025 season. As a rookie pass rusher, Sawyer had his moments that resulted in a few big plays, and he showed some ball skills along the way by intercepting two passes.
While Sawyer was mostly used as a left outside linebacker on defense as a rookie, the side he predominantly played on throughout his college career, he was able to log limited playing time on the right side throughout the year.
As is evidenced by his high special teams snap total as a rookie, Sawyer was a core player for the Steelers in that phase of the game throughout the 2025 season.
Outlook: Just as was the case in 2025, Sawyer figures to be the Steelers fourth -string outside linebacker in 2026 and thus he should see limited playing time on defense weekly. Additionally, we can probably count on Sawyer once again being a core special teams player in 2026.
Will Sawyer play as many defensive snaps in 2026 than he did in 2025? It’s hard to say for sure, but we could see that total slightly decrease a little this season and especially if the three outside linebackers ahead of him on the depth chart, T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig, all stay fairly healthy this year. Something they failed to do collectively in 2025.
It’s reasonable to expect that Sawyer’s play against the run will improve in 2026. He should also show some improvement as a pass rusher in his second NFL season as well. It would be nice to see Sawyer continue to get more playing time on the right side in 2026, but it’s not like such a request is crucial.
We should see Sawyer play quite extensively on defense throughout the upcoming preseason as there’s really no reason to play Watt, Highsmith and Herbig very much, if any, during the team’s three exhibition contests. Sawyer logged 100 such snaps last year during the preseason. That was roughly half of all defensive snaps for the team.
How Sawyer develops in 2026 could ultimately decide whether the team thinks he might could become a starter before his rookie contract ends, which is after the 2028 season concludes.
In closing, Sawyer’s 2026 defensive stat line is likely to look somewhat similar to the one he put together as a rookie, especially if Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig can each manage to play in at least 15 regular season games.
WR Ben Skowronek: Originally signed by the Steelers in 2024 as a practice squad player, Skowronek played in every game for the team in 2025. In total, he logged 159 offensive snaps during the 2025 regular season and a whopping 310 more on special teams.
For the 2025 regular season, Skowronek registered four receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown on six total targets. On special teams, he was credited with an impressive 21 total tackles and one fumble recovery. That performance earned him a Pro Bowl berth.
For his NFL career to date, Skowronek has recorded 67 receptions for 713 yards and two touchdowns on 104 total targets. He’s also logged 1,350 regular season snaps on offense since originally being selected in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame by the Los Angeles Rams.
As a special teams player for his NFL career to date, Skowronek has totaled 47 total tackles.
Outlook: Skowronek’s special teams ability is his main calling card as he enters his sixth NFL season, and it’s one that can’t be overlooked when it comes to his chances of making the 53-man roster again this year out of the preseason. The fact that he appears to be a good friend of QB Aaron Rodgers also won’t hurt him moving forward into the summer and early fall.
The top of the Steelers’ wide receiver depth chart hasn’t been hard to nail down since the draft took place as it includes two established players in DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. The Steelers also selected wide receivers Germie Bernard and Kaden Wetjen in the second and fourth rounds, respectively, during this year’s draft. Both are obviously now expected to make the 53-man roster. Third-year WR Roman Wilson will be battling to keep his 53-man roster spot this summer as well. Unlike Skowronek, he’s not a special teams asset.
The Steelers could keep as many as seven wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster to start the 2026 regular season. If that’s ultimately the final number, Skowronek should easily be one of them if he remains healthy. Even if the Steelers decide to keep a more plausible six wide receivers in total after the preseason, Skowronek’s special teams play should be more than good enough to land him one of those spots.
While Skowronek certainly hasn’t been a prime target in passing games throughout his NFL career, he’s managed to stick in the league as a part-time offensive player. His run blocking on offense is above-average. That’s another thing going for him as he heads into his second training camp and third season with the Steelers.
Skowronek played nearly 160 offensive snaps in 2025. It might be tough for him to hit that same amount, or more, in 2026 and especially if the top of the wide receiver depth chart remains healthy all season. Assuming Skowronek does stick on the 53-man roster, we can probably look forward to him being one of the Steelers’ leaders in special teams snaps played in 2026.
CB Doneiko Slaughter: Originally signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025 as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas by way of Tennessee, Slaughter was unable to make a 53-man or practice squad roster at any point during last season. After the 2025 season ended, the Steelers signed Slaughter to a Reserve/Future contract, and he’s been on the offseason roster throughout the summer.
During the 2025 preseason, Slaughter played 75 total defensive snaps and two more on special teams. He logged preseason playing time at both outside cornerback and slot cornerback. He registered one pass defensed and eight total tackles during the 2025 preseason.
For his college career, Slaughter played in 56 total games on his way to registering 167 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, four sacks, 13 passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He played outside and slot cornerback throughout his college career. Slaughter logged quite a bit of playing time on special teams throughout his college career.
At his 2025 college pro day, Slaughter measured in at 5112, 195-pounds with 31 3/8-inch arms and 9-inch hands. He ran his pro day 40-yard dash in 4.39-seconds, did 17 reps on the bench and posted a vertical jump of 36-inches to go along with a broad jump of 9’11”. Slaughter’s pro day short-shuttle time was 4.41-seconds, and his three-cone time was 7.30-seconds.
Outlook: As is the case with a lot of unproven and inexperienced players on this year’s offseason roster, Slaughter is really going to have a tough time proving that he is worth keeping around in Pittsburgh beyond the preseason. The Steelers have a deep cornerback room this summer that now includes veteran CB Jamal Dean, a free agency addition, and CB Daylen Everette, a 2026 draft pick.
About the best things going for Slaughter this summer is the fact that he can play inside and outside and that he is willing to throw his body around. His play against the run throughout his college career was also something for Slaughter to hang his hat on.
As a coverage player in college, Slaughter didn’t overly excel in that area. That statement is punctuated by the fact that he only registered two interceptions in 56 games. While Slaughter played quite a bit on special teams throughout his college career, he still only managed to make six total tackles in that phase of the game.
Realistically, Slaughter will be battling this summer for a spot on the Steelers’ practice squad to open the 2026 regular season. He’ll have a lot of competition for such a practice squad spot as well. Assuming Slaughter can stay healthy throughout training camp, we should see him play a fair number of snaps throughout the preseason as he should see playing time late in those three exhibition contests.
Previous Posts In This Series:
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Drew Allar, Spencer Anderson, Kyler Baugh
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Jaheim Bell, Keeanu Benton, Germie Bernard
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Yahya Black, Chris Boswell, Devan Boykin
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Jaquan Brisker, Carson Bruener, Cole Burgess
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Sebastian Castro, Dylan Cook, Greg Crippen
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Jamin Davis, Joaquin Davis, Jamel Dean
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Rico Dowdle, Jack Driscoll, Gennings Dunker
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Brandin Echols, DeShon Elliott, Daylen Everette
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Pat Freiermuth
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — JJ Galbreath, Anthony Goodlow, Derrick Harmon
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Malik Harrison, Ahmari Harvey, Eli Heidenreich
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Jack Henderson, Nick Herbig, Cameron Heyward
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Alex Highsmith, Brock Hoffman, Cole Holcomb
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Travis Homer, Will Howard, Max Hurleman
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Max Iheanachor, D’Shawn Jamison, Kevin Jobity Jr.
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Kaleb Johnson, Cameron Johnston, Broderick Jones
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Steven Jones, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Donte Kent
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Christian Kuntz, Logan Lee, Dean Lowry
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Tamon Lynum, Laith Marjan, Ryan McCollum
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Mason McCormick, Lake McRee, DK Metcalf
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Doug Nester, Lew Nichols, Riley Nowakowski
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Esezi Otomewo, A.T. Perry, Michael Pittman Jr.
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Joey Porter Jr., Daryl Porter, Patrick Queen
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Rodgers, Gabriel Rubio
90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Mason Rudolph, Asante Samuel Jr., Darnell Savage
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