Steelers’ most surprising moves from 2025 roster cutdown day highlighted by the release of fan favorite and shakeup in QB room
Here are the key takeaways from the Steelers initial roster.
Roster deadline day was on Tuesday and the Pittsburgh Steelers, like every other team in the league, were tasked with trimming their roster to 53 players.
The initial version of their roster is set, but there is still room for plenty of changes between now and the kickoff of the regular season.
Here are the moves that will be sure to create the most polarization.
CB Beanie Bishop Waived
It was simply a numbers game with Bishop. If you analyzed the roster, you could see how and why it would be hard for him to be back. The Steelers would have carried three slot cornerbacks if Bishop stayed on the team.
Clubs just don’t do that. Outside corner is too valuable, and Bishop’s size limitations label him a slot only.
But the move will be sure to receive pushback. A local favorite from WVU, Bishop had some good moments during his rookie season, and he honestly was fine this preseason, but with the additions of Jalen Ramsey and Brandin Echols in the slot, there are simply too many mouths to feed.
I expect Bishop to find his next home quickly, however.
Four QBs on active roster
A lot of people pushed back on the notion that Skylar Thompson had played himself into the backup role in Pittsburgh. Sure, maybe Mason Rudolph is still the de facto number two, but the preseason that Thompson had made him undeniable for the Steelers. He outperformed Rudolph every step of the way.
As far as Will Howard, the team is going to place him on the injured reserve at some point, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. It was the best course of action in this scenario as Howard looked great before his injury, and Thompson is more than capable of being the number two in Pittsburgh.
WR Robert Woods released
This one caught some by surprise, but Woods had no plays to speak of during his time with the Steelers. He was simply invisible among the rest of the WRs, which isn’t a good thing given where that unit stands right now.
It could open the door for another trade in the WR room, however.
Only three safeties on the active roster
This one was surprising because it meant that the team said goodbye to Chuck Clark, whom they had just signed in training camp. This is a little different than the others, however, because the Steelers could be toying with NFL rules and planning on bringing Clark back.
Pittsburgh Steelers News
Steelers’ 2025 Initial 53-man Roster: Pittsburgh makes some shocking moves in the secondary while hitting for the cycle at QB
Here is your initial 53 man roster.
