Steelers Roster Prediction 53
Steelers Roster Prediction 53
The Pittsburgh Steelers have played all three of their 2026 preseason games and by Sunday at 6 PM/ET, they need to trim their roster down to 53 active players. With that being the case, it’s time for me to throw out my fourth and final 53-man Steelers roster prediction for 2026.
As usual, I have included some analysis under each position group, and I invite you to post your own differences in the comments below along with your 53-man roster prediction.
While this is my final 53-man roster prediction for Sunday’s initial group, I do think the team could add and subtract from its final one over the course of the next week or so.
Links to my first three 53-man roster predictions are below.
Bryan: 2026 Steelers 53-Man Roster Prediction: Pre-Training Camp Edition
Bryan: 2026 Steelers 53-Man Roster Prediction: Post-Preseason Opener
Bryan: Final 2026 Steelers 53-Man Roster Prediction – Post-Second Preseason Game
Offense (26)
Quarterbacks (4) – Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, Drew Allar
Analysis: My job is to predict what ultimately happens as opposed to what I would likely do. Could Howard go to the Reserve/Injured list as a result of the possible head injury he sustained in the preseason finale? I suppose that’s plausible.
That said, I don’t think that will ultimately happen. Even though I’m opposed to the Steelers keeping all four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, it sure seems like we are heading toward that happening.
I would waive Howard as I think he would have a decent chance at clearing waivers and then possibly being signed to the practice squad. We don’t have long to wait until we find out if HC Mike McCarthy was blowing smoke up our butts since the draft.
Running Backs (4) – Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Travis Homer, Lew Nichols
Analysis: Wait, what did I just do? Why is Nichols in this group after predicting all offseason that the numbers would work against him? Well, I have an explanation. You will see a few position groups down that I only went with three tight ends/fullbacks and that reasoning is due to Robert Tonyan being a vested veteran.
Now, just because I have Nichols on this initial 53-man roster does not mean he will be on it by the time the Steelers play the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 13. I think there is a chance that Nichols is essentially a placeholder player so the Steelers don’t have to fully guarantee Tonyan’s 2026 salary.
Could I have done the same thing with Homer? Sure, but I think him being the team’s primary personal proctor on the punt team holds a lot of value and is essentially a role he will play all season. He’s a fine special teams player and he can get the team out of a game as a running back should multiple injuries occur.
Homer was one of the free agents the Steelers signed in March. They may not want to risk losing him by terminating his contract.
Wide Receivers (6) – DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek, Kaden Wetjen
Analysis: I was very surprised that Wilson did not play in the preseason finale. Did he really practice that well leading up to the game? I guess so.
Obviously, Wetjen answered his critics, me included, with his punt return for a touchdown Thursday night. These wide receivers have been my six all offseason. I do wonder, however, if one of Wilson or Bernard will be on the inactive list to start the regular season.
Tight Ends/Fullbacks (3) – Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Riley Nowakowski
Analysis: Look, I think Tonyan was a fine offseason signing and he has not done anything to get himself cut other than being a vested veteran. He really did not play much on special teams during the preseason as evidenced by his five total snaps in that phase of the game. Four of those came in the preseason opener as well.
If the Steelers terminate his contract, they could sign him to the practice squad before maybe signing him to the 53-man roster in time for their Week 1 game.
Having the Steelers cutting Tonyan in my final roster prediction is more about him being a vested veteran and the team maybe not wanting to guarantee his base salary. I think the Kansas City Chiefs did this very thing with Tonyan last August. The Chiefs terminated his contract before signing him to their practice squad and then their 53-man roster all before Kansas City’s first regular-season game. It makes sense for the Steelers to attempt to do the same thing with him this year.
Offensive Linemen (9) – Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Troy Fautanu, Spencer Anderson, Max Iheanachor, Dylan Cook, Brock Hoffman, Gennings Dunker, Broderick Jones
Analysis: We finally got to see Iheanachor play on Thursday night and that was great. Dunker also played in the preseason finale after missing the previous contest with a minor injury. These have been my nine offensive linemen all offseason. I think it’s possible that Dunker opens the regular season on the inactive list, however. At least one offensive lineman who is kept will likely need to be inactive.
I think there’s a decent chance that Steelers can trade Ryan McCollum for a late-round draft pick to a center-needy team before Sunday evening. He’s a versatile interior offensive lineman. If McCollum is not traded, I could see him landing on the practice squad again.
Defense (24)
Defensive Linemen (6) – Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Yahya Black, Gabriel Rubio
Analysis: While I think Dean Lowry had a fine preseason, like Tonyan, he is also a vested veteran. In short, I can see his contract being terminated with him then landing on the practice squad. I have Rubio, a sixth-round draft pick this year, getting the sixth and final roster spot in this position group.
Is there a chance that Joseph-Day needs to go to the Reserve/Injured list to open the regular season? I suppose, but I will bet against that happening. If the Steelers keep seven defensive linemen, I could see Rubio and Lowry making the 53-man roster. Maybe that happens after the initial roster is set as well.
Inside Linebackers (5) – Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb, Carson Bruener
Analysis: I don’t think the Steelers want to get into a situation where Bruener has to play defensive snaps just yet. Bruener, however, is a fine special teams player, and that’s why I have him making the 53-man roster.
While I could listen to an argument for Holcomb being cut, I think he stays as, like Bruener, he has a lot to offer on special teams. Holcomb also can play on defense should the need arise.
Outside Linebackers (4) – T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer
Analysis: Even if the Steelers want to keep five outside linebackers, the math says that can’t work. This position group of four is an easy decision. Sawyer will obviously help out on special teams quite a bit and Herbig might have a very limited role once again in that phase of the game as well.
Cornerbacks (6) – Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, Jalen Ramsey, Asante Samuel Jr., Brandin Echols, Daylen Everette
Analysis: I really can’t see the Steelers moving Porter to the Reserve/PUP list by Sunday evening. Whether he is ready to play come Week 1 might be a different story. It was great to see Echols and Everette both play Thursday night, and each should easily make the 53-man roster. It’s hard to imagine more than six in this group come Sunday evening.
Safeties (3) – Jaquan Brisker, DeShon Elliott, Robert Spears-Jennings
Analysis: This position group is where it really gets interesting. I think Rayshawn Jenkins has done more than enough to make the 53-man roster. However, like Tonyan and Lowry, he is also a vested veteran. Could he circle back to the 53-man roster prior to the Week 1 game? Sure. Might he start the regular season on the practice squad? Sure.
Keep in mind that Brisker has been banged up the entire preseason. If he doesn’t land on the Reserve/Injured list but isn’t healthy enough to play in Week 1, Jenkins would be an easy elevation choice from the practice squad.
On a side note, I thought Spears-Jennings had a great preseason both on defense and special teams. The Steelers might have a long-term player in him.
Specialists (3)
Kicker (1) – Chris Boswell
Analysis: The Serial Killer easily claimed another victim in UDFA rookie K Laith Marjan!
Punter (1) – Cameron Johnston
Analysis: Hope he gets the job done after an uncontested preseason.
Long Snapper (1) – Christian Kuntz
Analysis: Not even challenged this offseason.
Non-53-Man Spots (4)
Reserve/Injured (3) – Logan Lee, Cole Burgess, Daequan Hardy
Analysis: Lee, Burgess, and Hardy are all on the Reserve/Injured list, and it seems all three are destined to remain there at the start of the regular season. Could S Sebastian Castro end up on this list if he is waived injured and clears waivers? Yes. As previously mentioned, Joseph-Day and Brisker could end up on this list as well.
Reserve/Physically Unable To Perform (1) – Donte Kent
Analysis: Kent is destined to be moved to Reserve/PUP list for the start of the regular season, as he’s yet to come off the Active/PUP list.
Practice Squad (17) – C Gregory Crippen, G/T Doug Nester, T Jack Driscoll, WR Max Hurleman, WR Brandon Smith, TE Robert Tonyan, RB/WR Eli Heidenreich, TE Lake McRee, DT Kyler Baugh, DT Dean Lowry, S Jack Henderson, ILB Jacoby Windmon, CB Devan Boykin, CB D’Shawn Jamison, S Rayshawn Jenkins, OLB Jamin Davis, OLB Julius Welschof (INT exception)
Week 1 Inactive List (5) – QB Will Howard (Emergency 3rd QB), QB Drew Allar, OG Gennings Dunker, CB Daylen Everette, RB Lew Nichols