Category Archives: Steelers Transactions

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Steelers Release QB Tajh Boyd, Sign WR Jarrod West

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The Steelers announce that they have released Tajh Boyd this morning. Rookie receiver Jarrod West has been signed.

https://twitter.com/SteelersPRBurt/status/633637103096737792

West had a tryout in camp last week, but the team signed WR David Nelson instead. Nelson injured his shoulder shortly after signing. He went undrafted out of Syracuse this year. The former Orange receiver is 6’3, 212 lbs. He caught 49 passes his last season for a total of 700 yards under 4 different quarterbacks.

Boyd didn’t play a single down during the first two preseason games. The Steelers activated Bruce Gradkowski last week, which meant Boyd’s days were limited. The former Clemson quarterback was drafted in the sixth round by the Jets in ’14, but cut during preseason last year.

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Steelers Activate Bruce Gradkowski From PUP List

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The Steelers have activated QB Bruce Gradkowski from the PUP list. As I reported earlier, the veteran QB said he would be returning to practice today, but there was no official word on his status. Steelers PR man Burt Lauten has confirmed it on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/SteelersPRBurt/status/632980142726496256

Gradkowski began camp on the PUP list with a shoulder injury. With his return, I expect we’ll see less a little less of Landry Jones against Green Bay next Sunday.

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Suisham To IR, Stingily Waived/Injured, 2 Signed

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As expected, the Steelers have placed K Shaun Suisham on Injured Reserve, officially ending his season before it began. RB Cam Stingily, who also had knee surgery yesterday, has been waived/injured. He’ll go to IR, too, after clearing waivers.

With the two available roster spots, the Steelers signed RB Braylon Heard and WR David Nelson.

Heard, 5′, 9″, 198 lbs, was with the Kentucky Wildcats last year after transferring from Nebraska. A situational back at UK, Heard is quick footed, but is often taken down easily. The UDFA RB rushed for 366 yds with 4 TD’s and had 108 yds on 21 receptions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VI8KT6RV3Q

David Nelson is a veteran wide receiver who spent his first 3 years in Buffalo, and his last 2 in NY with the Jets. The Jets released him last year after they traded for Percy Harvin. Predominately used as a role player throughout his career, the 6’5, 215 lb receiver had his best season statistically in 2011, where he had 5 TD’s and 658 total receiving yards.

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QB/WR Devin Gardner Has Been Waived/Injured

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The Steelers have waived/injured QB/WR Devin Gardner.

https://twitter.com/steelers/status/631184314185576453

Gardner was signed by the Steelers in May as an undrafted free agent. The team transitioned the former Michigan Quarterback to wide receiver this summer. Gardner was in for 22 plays against the Vikings Sunday night, though did not leave with an injury. No immediate word on the nature of his injury.

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Steelers Sign K Garrett Hartley According To His Agent

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The Steelers have signed Garrett Hartley according to his agent Erik Burkhardt.

https://twitter.com/ErikBurkhardt/status/631147475890491397

I reported earlier that he was one of 3 kickers the team was hosting for tryouts today. Out of those 3, Hartley was the most promising in my opinion. We’ll get to see him on Friday in Jacksonville.

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Steelers Sign Dangerfield, Waive Isaiah Lewis

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Jordan Dangerfield got a little respect this week. Saturday the Steelers announced they had waived Isaiah Lewis and signed safety Jordan Dangerfield. It’s getting hard to keep track of how many times the Steelers have signed the former Towson DB. He held his own in preseason last year, but didn’t make it out of training camp cuts.

Lewis was somewhat of a fan favorite. The undrafted free agent who was signed in January was known for his hard-hits.

The Steelers have been dealing with many defensive injuries during training camp, resulting in many roster changes over the past few days.

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Clifton Geathers To IR, DE Okafor Signed

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It’s that time of year when teams are making frequent roster moves. This time, the Steelers faced the disappointing decision to place veteran DE Clifton Geathers on injured reserve. No immediate word was given as to the nature of his injury. The 6’8″ Geathers had previously played with the Eagles and Redskins. To fill the opening, the team signed DE Joe Okafor.

Okafor was an UDFA in the 2014 draft. After playing for Oklahoma State in 2011, he played at Lamar University from 2012 to 2014. He received an honorable mention for All-Southland Conference in 2014.

https://youtu.be/l1ckGJ7XnbI

 

The loss of Geathers is a hit to the defensive line depth chart, and pretty much solidifies Cam Thomas’ roster spot. The move does open the door for Ethan Hemer, L.T. Walton, as well as Joe Kruger. It will be interesting to see who steps forward during preseason and takes advantage of the extra playing time.

Rob Blanchflower

Steelers Waive TE Blanchflower, Claim TE Hamilton

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Tight end Rob Blanchflower has been waived/injured to make room for tight end Ray Hamilton, who the Steelers claimed off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys. Hamilton, out of Iowa, had been acquired by the Cowboys on May 9th as an undrafted rookie. During his 4 years at Iowa, he caught for 305 yards in 29 passes.

Blanchflower was a seventh round draft pick by the Steelers in the 2014 NFL Draft. I thought Blanchflower was a steal coming out of UMASS, but he just couldn’t escape the injury bug.

If he should clear waivers he would find himself on the Steelers injured reserve list. However, from there he’ll likely be waived with an injury settlement.

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Antwon Blake Signs RFA Tender

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Steelers restricted free agent corner Antwon Blake has signed his tender. He confirmed the news via Twitter.

https://twitter.com/ZillaMane41/status/584108236027990016

The tender guarantees Blake $1.54 Mil for 2015. Since coming to Pittsburgh in 2013, he has contributed in 14 regular season games, 10 of which were last season. With the loss of Ike Taylor and Brice McCain, Blake’s value has risen this offseason.

The other two restricted free agents who were tendered- Will Johnson and Robert Golden, have yet to sign their tenders.

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Steelers Tender Offers To 3 Restricted Free Agents

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The Steelers have tendered offers to all 3 of their restricted free agents. CB Antwon Blake, S Robert Golden, and TE Will Johnson have all been offered the lowest round tender of $1.542 Mil. The team would not receive compensation if they were signed by another team, but by tendering them, they have the right of first refusal.

It was anyone’s guess as to whether or not the team would tender all three of them, but there isn’t really a wrong answer here. The Steelers can also sign the players to long term deals do get their numbers down.

I’d wager this year will be relatively drama free on the RFA front for a change.