Steelers sign 16 players to their 2025 practice squad
NFL cut down day has become something highly anticipated by fans across the league. Seeing if their “diamond in the rough” makes the roster or if their team parted ways with a particular player many feel should have been cut loose years ago, dissecting the initial 53-man roster feels like a true start to the regular season. But for those players who were let go on Tuesday, Wednesday brings a new day and perhaps a new opportunity to continue their NFL dream.
Welcome to the NFL practice squad.
After players with 4 or less accrued seasons clear waivers, each team can sign players to their official practice squad. For six seasons now, the practice squad was expanded to 16 players and 6 of those players can be of unlimited accrued seasons (including the players who were not subject to waivers). The players on the practice squad can be promoted by the Steelers or signed by other NFL teams, but once again for 2025 teams can protect up to 4 players on the practice squad each week starting on Tuesday. Additionally, each team can promote up to 2 players from the practice squad to the active roster without having to remove another player.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they did not wait like in years past and signed their complete 16-man practice squad Wednesday, all of which were with the team in training camp. The list of players is below:
DB Beanie Bishop
DB Sebastian Castro
DB D’Shawn Jamison
DB James Pierre
DB Daryl Porter
DT Kyler Baugh
DE DeMarvin Leal
LB Julius Welschof
OL Dylan Cook
OL Steven Jones
RB Lew Nichols
RB Trey Sermon
TE JJ Galbreath
WR Max Hurleman
WR Ke’Shawn Williams
WR Robert Woods
The one additional thing the Steelers can do is add another player because Julius Welschof qualifies as part of the International Player Pathway (IPP) Program. This means the Steelers are eligible to have a 17th player.
The practice squad can change, just like the team’s 53-man roster can certainly change between now and the Week 1 game vs. the New York Jets. For this reason, stay tuned to Steel Curtain Network for any updates on any roster moves and all Steelers news as they prepare for the kickoff of the 2025 season.
Pretty much the exact list I was expecting after cuts yesterday (with the exception of potentially stashing B. Sauls on the practice squad).
It’s interesting that everyone they signed to the practice squad was with the team in the preseason. There’s no one, save that extra spot due to Welschof, being from another team. I think something I have forgotten and other fans as well is the rules on the number of times players can be elevated from the practice squad to play on Sunday. While these players on the PS could be poached by another team, it’s not highly likely. More than likely we’ll have Pierre, Bishop, Castro be elevated from the practice squad at the beginning of the year while Harmon, Howard, or someone else is deactivated on game day.
There’s still one open spot.
Chuck Clark isn’t listed, and neither is Mark Robinson so I am wondering if they are waiting until after Week 1, so his salary isn’t fully guaranteed.
Clark has been signed to the 53, now that Kent and Howard have been placed on IR. Scharping is back on the 53 as well.
I guess they figure Woods will be a good short-term emergency call-up if needed, but I’d have rather kept Roc Taylor or McCutcheon than a 33 year old.