The Cincinnati Bengals have claimed Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and returner Ke’Shawn Williams off waivers, per the NFL’s transactions sheet via reporter Tom Pelissero. 

Pittsburgh waived Williams ahead of Monday night’s game to make room for WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling. 

The Bengals claimed WR Ke’Shawn Williams off waivers from Pittsburgh.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 16, 2025

Valdes-Scantling was signed to the 53-man roster instead of being elevated because the Steelers used their two elevations on EDGE DeMarvin Leal and OT Jack Driscoll as depth, with EDGE T.J. Watt and OT Andrus Peat sitting out the Dolphins game.

Pittsburgh was likely aiming to sign Williams to the practice squad after clearing waivers. Instead, Williams will finish out the season in Cincinnati. It was a busy day of waiver claims for teams around the league, typical for late in the season as clubs eliminated from the playoffs, as the Bengals officially were this weekend, begin looking towards the offseason.

Undrafted out of Indiana, Williams signed with Pittsburgh following the 2025 draft. He made a quick impression in the summer with strong preseason performances as a receiver and returner. He handled punt returns throughout the preseason, and though he didn’t make the initial 53-man roster, the Steelers signed him to the practice squad to begin the year.

Williams made his debut in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns, serving as the team’s starting kick and punt returner. He handled the latter due to WR Calvin Austin III injuring his shoulder in Week 4’s Dublin game against the Minnesota Vikings.

In eight appearances with the Steelers, Williams averaged 10.2 yards on 11 punt returns and 23.6 yards per return on 18 kicks. He logged scant offensive snaps and failed to catch a pass.

A late-game muffed punt against the Los Angeles Chargers removed him from punt duty, though he continued to work alongside Kenneth Gainwell on kickoffs for the next several weeks. But he was made inactive for Week 14’s win over the Baltimore Ravens as the Steelers worked to get veterans Adam Thielen and Valdes-Scantling in the fold. He was waived yesterday.

In total, Williams logged 59 special teams snaps and another nine offensively while with Pittsburgh.

Williams will try to impress the Bengals the rest of the regular season. There’s a chance Pittsburgh could re-sign him in the offseason to a Reserve/Futures deal. The Steelers brought back UDFA rookie S Sebastian Castro after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers poached him early in the year.