Four players who might be playing their last game as Steelers

Kaleb Johnson 5 carries for 11 yards and was badly outplayed by Nichols and Heidenreich. I can't see how he makes the team.

 

Metal challenged?

 

Definitely can’t put him on STs

 

I'd rather keep Heidenreich and try him as primary WR, backup/emergency RB (and hopefully a ST ace) than Wilson or Johnson.

 

It was kind of crazy they didn't even try Heidenreich at WR. This year it was RB or Bust for Heidenreich.

 

And I don't think he played at all against the Jets.

Didn't want him to get hurt I bet. So no injury settlement.

Maybe they held on to him this long just in case there was an injury or something (either here or elsewhere to see if he had trade value)?

Just like we knew DK would get restructured this offseason, I think we know that Harrison will get cut...unless he takes a hefty pay cut.

 

Eli is a practice squad guy with a good story.

I guess I'd keep him over Johnson, who has seemed destined to get cut since we signed Dowdle.

I don't particularly like Wilson, but I think he's a better back end player at a position we're weaker at. If we want to use Eli as a WR, using the PS is the right way to teach him a new position.

And while I'm not particular excited about Johnson or Wilson being on the roster, my guess is that there will be cuts that free up vets that are better than Eli who I'd rather have on the roster.

 

I just don't get how Johnson didn't get any ST snaps in the preseason.

It can't be that he didn't offer. He has to know that showing he can play teams is his only hope of making the roster.

It's hard not to conclude that they decided he wasn't going to make the team the day they signed Dowdle (probably before).

And they just played him in the preseason so backs we want didn't get hurt?

Not playing on teams is the kiss of death for him IMO.

 

Did either Howard or Allar have much success throwing to Roman Wilson?


With all the other RBs, I can't imagine a way KJ makes the 53.

 

Two things can be true regarding this preseason:


1.) Broderick Jones has been bad this preseason; real bad at times.


2.) Coming back from a neck injury is comically difficult for any player. For one of the most violent positions in all of sports in being an Offensive Tackle, that difficulty is greatly magnified.



Broderick isn't healthy; clearly. Even I myself have stated that he wasn't and it would be some time before he gets back into being healthy. Now, this doesn't excuse the basics; slow off the snap, improper hand placement (his arms and hands are always outside; exposing his chest) and consistently ducking his head before engaging a defender in the running game are just but a number of fundamental issues that Broderick Jones still has. Athleticism and physicality are not among them... normally. Due to the injury, we are seeing essentially what half of what Broderick Jones is.


A 100% Broderick Jones is far more worthy of a swing tackle role than a good majority of NFL Swing Tackles. Cutting him only compounds the issue as the Steelers don't have a reliable nor nearly athletic enough option.


In short?! Broderick hasn't played well but hyper athletic swing tackles do not grow on trees.

 

Here are the names I suspect that will be gone.


1.) Kaleb Johnson: Basically a gimme but he is as good as gone. A true shame for I don't understand how he wouldn't be a fit for McCarthy's Zone Blocking Offense. He had tremendous success at Iowa before and possesses the contact balance and ball carrier vision to do so. Just not sure about why it didn't work here.

2.) Malik Harrison: Bringing Elandon Roberts back was only half of the reason he will not be returning. The emergence of Carson Bruener is yet another. Yes, Bruener didn't have a Preseason Finale worth remembering but that doesn't detract the strides he has taken either.

3.) Roman Wilson: This one isn't going to be due to a cut. If anything, I suspect a trade will happen. While it is true that Roman Wilson is no doubt talented, he simply cannot be trusted. For whatever reason, he cannot replicate his practice capabilities into live game action.



Beyond these three, not too many other names I can think of as definitive removals from the Final 53. Dean Lowry would be an honorable mention. However, that is heavily contingent on what the brass thinks more so of what Gabriel Rubio can become in comparison to what Dean already is. Me personally, I would move on from Lowry. Rubio has shown he is capable of being a rock solid sub package player already.

 

Gotta agree about Johnson, he must be just awful in practice, why wouldn't a third rounder be given more of a chance?

 

Apparently the Bungles have shown interest in Johnson
https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/s...-bengals-report-nfl-news-updates/91530096007/

 

We both did.