3 biggest surprises from Pittsburgh Steelers roster deadline day: A hometown hero makes the cut, a shocking release, and more
The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially trimmed their roster from 90 to 53 players, and even for a team whose roster was pretty much set in stone throughout camp, deadline day left us with a few surprises. Here they are.
After a busy weekend that featured the trades of offensive tackle Broderick Jones and running back Kaleb Johnson, the Pittsburgh Steelers have finalized their initial 53-man roster ahead of Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons.
But even for a roster that, on paper, was relatively set in stone, there were still some surprises. Here are your three biggest.
DeShon Elliott to IR
Let’s just say that the Steelers safety situation went from not great to hanging on by a thread when the final roster cuts rolled in Sunday evening. Elliott just played in the preseason finale, and there was no evidence that he would be placed on the injured reserve, even if it’s a short-term designation.
That forced the Steelers to keep three total safeties, and there are health questions about the other potential starter, Jaquan Brisker. It’s why I hypothesize that Omar Khan might not be done making trades, as that room could be on its last legs.
Eli Heidenreich as RB No.3
Not to victory lap, but I had Heidenreich making the final 53-man roster in my last prediction, but I wasn’t entirely sure the Steelers would actually do it. Heidenreich entered camp as a long-shot local product (Mount Lebanon) and was widely projected for the practice squad.
After the Steelers traded 2025 third-rounder Kaleb Johnson and released veterans Travis Homer and Lew Nichols, the seventh-rounder landed the third running-back spot behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle. He also contributed as a kick returner and is listed as RB/WR, giving the staff extra flexibility. Choosing the rookie over a proven special-teams veteran like Homer was the bigger surprise of the backfield moves.
The release of Elandon Roberts
When news of Roberts’ release on Sunday am came down, I had to doule check that the news was accurate. Roberts had just returned on a one-year deal in mid-August, reuniting with new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham (they were together in Las Vegas in 2025). He played well in the preseason, especially against the run, and brought energy and familiarity to a thin inside-linebacker group.
Cutting him (along with Malik Harrison) so soon after bringing him back was widely described as a shock, but something tells me that Roberts’ time in the Black and Gold might not be over just yet. We’ll see if he’s back on the roster come opening day in Pittsburgh.
Other Key Takeaways from Roster Deadline Day
- Steelers keep all 4 quarterbacks.
- Kevin Jobity makes the final 53.
- Joey Porter Jr. activated off PUP list.
