{"id":276660,"date":"2026-09-01T17:58:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T17:58:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/276660\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T17:58:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T17:58:19","slug":"whats-the-deal-with-the-steelers-final-53-roster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/276660\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the Deal with the Steelers’ ‘Final 53’ Roster?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PITTSBURGH STEELERS QUARTERBACK AARON RODGERS DURING A REGULAR SEASON GAME BETWEEN THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS AND THE CINCINNATI BENGALS, THURSDAY, OCT. 16, 2025 IN CINCINNATI, OH. | PHOTO BY KARL ROSER\/PITTSBURGH STEELERS<\/p>\n

It\u2019s always been referenced as the \u201cfinal 53\u201d for some reason, but in actuality the collection of 53 Steelers<\/a> who survived in compliance with the NFL\u2019s mandatory roster cutdown from 90 is only the beginning.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Changes will be made throughout the season, by choice and by necessity, probably before the regular-season commences on Sept. 13 against Atlanta.<\/p>\n

Still, such an occasion is worthy of overanalysis,\u00a0 if not overreaction.<\/p>\n

The following is a little bit of both to help get you ready for the football that matters.<\/p>\n

\"2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy is introduced at a press conference, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser \/ Pittsburgh Steelers)<\/p>\n

Be Like Mike<\/p>\n

The quarterback thing has been beaten to death, four vs. three, Will Howard vs. Drew Allar, even Aaron Rodgers\u2019 perceived viability at 42 going on 43.<\/p>\n

Enough already, at least for the time being.<\/p>\n

Head coach Mike McCarthy was brought here to win now and to develop a quarterback for later. The quarterback room and the quarterback rotation are set up as he sees fit.<\/p>\n

And while coaches are far from infallible, and subject to scrutiny the day they sign a contract, McCarthy\u2019s track record suggests he deserves the benefit of the doubt in this instance.<\/p>\n

After all, he didn\u2019t earn his \u201cQuarterback Whisperer\u201d reputation at Aiello\u2019s.<\/p>\n

To be sure, he probably knows more about potential quarterback ceilings, and how to best coax quarterbacks into reaching them, than the fans, the bloggers, the Tweeters and, yes, even the media.<\/p>\n

McCarthy needs to do what he does with the QBs however he chooses to do it. If not, there wasn\u2019t much sense in hiring him in the first place.<\/p>\n

There\u2019ll be time enough for counting when the dealing\u2019s done.<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KARL ROSER\/PITTSBURGH STEELERS<\/p>\n

Gateway to the Secondary<\/p>\n

The defensive secondary will open the season as a theory.<\/p>\n

Safety\/slot cornerback Jalen Ramsey didn\u2019t play in the preseason. Neither did cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who has at least been activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list, suggesting \u2014 but not confirming \u2014\u00a0he\u2019ll play in the regular-season opener with or without the contract extension he\u2019s seeking.<\/p>\n

Safety Jaquan Brisker also didn\u2019t play in the preseason, and safety DeShon Elliott surprisingly turned up on Injured Reserve-Designated for Return despite Elliott maintaining in the spring and again in training camp that he was well on his way back from a hamstring\/knee injury that ended his season last season and required surgery.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Elliott thought all along he would be ready for the Falcons. Instead, he\u2019ll miss the first four games.<\/p>\n

Brisker, a product of Gateway High School and Penn State, may quickly prove to be a most fortuitous free-agent signing given the current circumstances. He\u2019s the type of versatile safety most, if not all, teams seek.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In his last game, he played perhaps the best game of his four-year NFL career. That was back on Jan. 18 as the Bears took on the Rams in the NFC playoffs. Brisker\u2019s 14 tackles (eight solo), sack and two passes defensed included plays made in the offensive backfield and deep in the defensive secondary.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He was everywhere, it seemed, and he never left the field. (Brisker played all 78 defensive snaps and five more on special teams as the Bears fell, 20-17 defeat in overtime).<\/p>\n

If that guy shows up against Atlanta, Elliott won\u2019t be missed.<\/p>\n

\"Steelers<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Give Up the Ship<\/p>\n

Eli Heidenreich\u2019s journey from Mt. Lebanon to the United States Naval Academy to heartwarming seventh-round draft pick to training camp with his hometown team was easily the feel-good story of the offseason\/preseason.<\/p>\n

Heidenreich\u2019s inclusion among the initial regular-season 53-man roster is head-scratching. Unless \u2026 we haven\u2019t seen anything yet.<\/p>\n

Listed as a running back initially, the position he technically played at Navy, Heidenreich nonetheless arrived having done the vast majority of his damage catching passes while in Annapolis; the attraction was what he might be able to accomplish on the receiving end of passes, as opposed to running between the tackles.<\/p>\n

Yet, in three preseason games Heidenreich not only didn\u2019t catch a pass, he wasn\u2019t even targeted. Still, when the regular-season 53-player roster\u00a0 was announced, Heidenreich suddenly had the unique designation of running back\/wide receiver bestowed upon him.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not a stretch to suggest the Steelers have been keeping a situational, ball-in-his-hands-in-space, gadget-type role for Heidenreich under wraps until it matters.<\/p>\n

It could prove worth waiting for.<\/p>\n

\"Steelers<\/a><\/p>\n

Neshannock-area Steelers fans Bob Leonhardt, Shari Flamino, Vince Russo, Jill Flamino Barletto and Lindy Lauro take a selfie while tailgating before the Steelers home opener on the North Shore of Pittsburgh on Sunday. Alexandra Wimley\/ New Castle News<\/p>\n

They Saw Enough<\/p>\n

The most stunning inclusion on the regular-season roster was defensive lineman Kevin Jobity Jr., an undrafted rookie from Syracuse who was anonymous until he registered a sack in the preseason finale at Buffalo.<\/p>\n

Some after-the-fact research on Jobity revealed he had three sacks against Pitt last Oct. 18.<\/p>\n

Big games against their South Side co-tenants have gotten the Steelers\u2019 attention in such situations previously.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oklahoma State wide receiver James Washington (second round, 2018) and Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph (third round, 2018) both had monster efforts against the Panthers before being drafted by the Steelers. So did North Carolina wide receiver Ryan Switzer before being acquired via a trade in 2018.<\/p>\n

If only Aaron Donald had played against rather than for Pitt. How different history might have been.<\/p>\n

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