Bryan: 2025 Steelers 53-Man Roster Prediction: Pre-Training Camp Edition<\/a><\/p>\nOffense (24)<\/p>\n
Quarterbacks (3)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard<\/p>\n
Analysis: The hand\/finger injury suffered by Howard during training camp will hopefully be healed by the start of the regular season. If that\u2019s the case, he shouldn\u2019t have to start 2025 on the Reserve\/Injured list. We\u2019ll see. As for Skylar Thompson, a few more nice preseason game showings could result in another team coveting him as a trade candidate, where a late-round draft pick might be involved as compensation. The New York Jets, who the Steelers play in Week 1, is the first team that comes to my mind. We aren\u2019t likely to see Rodgers or Howard play at all during the preseason, and that certainly sucks as a fan.<\/p>\n
Running Backs (3)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0\u00a0Jaylen Warren,\u00a0Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell<\/p>\n
Analysis: For now, there is still no reason for me to move off of these three. Barring any injuries to any of them, they will be my final three. Trey Sermon could wind up on the practice squad and possibly even Lew Nichols as well.<\/p>\n
Wide Receivers (5)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0DK Metcalf,\u00a0Calvin Austin III,\u00a0Roman Wilson,\u00a0Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek <\/p>\n
Analysis: Metcalf, Austin, Wilson and Skowronek are obviously easy keeps with the last player on that list being a special teamer. I originally had Robert Woods as one of my five, but it feels like he could be outside of the roster bubble right now. Several other younger wide receivers had good showings in the first preseason game, and we\u2019ll need to watch the second exhibition to see if any in that group separates and continues to shine. Max Hurleman, maybe? Steelers OC Arthur Smith sure seems to be a fan of Miller, so this time around I will replace Woods with him. The current ailment that Austin is dealing with could throw a wrench into this position group, however. Could an outside wide receiver still be in the plans? On the surface, I\u2019m not sure one can completely rule such an addition out right now.<\/p>\n
Tight Ends\/Fullbacks (4)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith,\u00a0Darnell Washington,\u00a0Connor Heyward<\/p>\n
Analysis: None of the rookie tight ends challenged Connor Heyward for his roster spot throughout training camp. In fact, one of those young undrafted free agent tight ends has already been waived. Connor Heyward\u2019s best ability comes on special teams. His second best ability is his availability. Unless the Steelers go outside for a fourth tight end, these four are likely to be the four on the 53-man roster, barring any injuries happening, of course.<\/p>\n
Offensive Linemen (9)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick,\u00a0Troy Fautanu,\u00a0Spencer Anderson, Calvin Anderson, Dylan Cook, Ryan McCollum<\/p>\n
Analysis: Can Calvin Anderson and Ryan McCollum get back healthy by Week 1? We\u2019ll see. It sure seems like both might miss a second preseason game on Saturday night at the time of this post. While Max Scharping has been the backup center with McCollum sidelined by injury, he\u2019s a better guard. None of the other backup offensive linemen have really pushed for roster spots through the first preseason game, in my opinion. Much like the wide receiver position group, an outsider coming in at the last minute is not totally out of the question right now. Andrus Peat can help his cause Saturday night with a better showing, and thus threaten Calvin Anderson for his spot in the nine.<\/p>\n
Defense (26)<\/p>\n
Defensive Linemen (7)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Cameron Heyward,\u00a0Keeanu Benton,\u00a0Derrick Harmon, Daniel Ekuale, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Esezi Otomewo,\u00a0Yahya Black<\/p>\n
Analysis: The knee injury that Dean Lowry sustained earlier in training camp made this position group a little easier to predict. Otomewo might be the most questionable one of the seven, but has anyone really pushed him yet? In my opinion, no. Certainly not Logan Lee. Will the Steelers indeed keep seven defensive linemen in total? That certainly can be debated at this point. That\u2019s how many I am keeping during this prediction round, however.<\/p>\n
Inside Linebackers (5)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Patrick Queen,\u00a0Payton Wilson, Malik Harrison, Cole Holcomb,\u00a0Mark Robinson<\/p>\n
Analysis: I originally had rookie Carson Bruener in this group of five and in lieu of Robinson. After one preseason game in the books, I am swapping out Bruener for Robinson, who has value on special teams. There\u2019s still two more preseason games to go for Bruener to make me switch back to him, however. It sure was good to see Holcomb back on the field last Saturday. This seems to be a good and deep position group overall.<\/p>\n
Outside Linebackers (4)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0T.J. Watt,\u00a0Alex Highsmith,\u00a0Nick Herbig,\u00a0Jack Sawyer<\/p>\n
Analysis: These are my same four from my initial prediction, and only the rookie Sawyer played in the first preseason game. He\u2019s a lock, however. These should be the final four barring any injuries. I doubt the Steelers keep five in total, especially if they decide to keep five inside linebackers. Maybe the Steelers can sucker a team to trade for DeMarvin Leal. I doubt it, but we\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n
Cornerbacks (6)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Joey Porter Jr.,\u00a0Jalen Ramsey,\u00a0Darius Slay,\u00a0Brandin Echols, Beanie Bishop Jr., James Pierre<\/p>\n
Analysis: Cory Trice Jr. can\u2019t make the club in the tub. He was on my original group of six cornerbacks but not anymore. He just can\u2019t stay healthy. While Pierre isn\u2019t much of a cover cornerback, he sure is good on special teams. I apologize to Bishop this time around for jettisoning him as part of my first roster prediction ahead of training camp getting underway. If Trice can get back in action before the preseason ends, it still might not be enough for him.<\/p>\n
Safeties (4)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0DeShon Elliott,\u00a0Juan Thornhill,\u00a0Miles Killebrew, Chuck Clark<\/p>\n
Analysis: I originally had Quindell Johnson as one of four safeties, but that was before the team signed Clark. With Clark now on the team, Johnson has to come off my 53-man roster prediction. I have him landing on the practice squad this time around. This should be a very cut-and-dry group of four at this point. Injuries are the only thing that can change that, in my opinion.<\/p>\n
Specialists (3)<\/p>\n
Kicker (1)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Chris Boswell<\/p>\n
Analysis: This is Boswell\u2019s spot, and nobody should think otherwise. The only real question concerning him right now is related to whether he gets more money in 2025, or at the very least, get his 2026 money fully guaranteed before Week 1.<\/p>\n
Punter (1)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Cameron Johnston<\/p>\n
Analysis: Johnston and Corliss Waitman sure seem to be in a legitimate preseason battle after one exhibition game now in the books. I am staying with Johnston right now as my predicted winner. Let\u2019s see how Saturday night goes for these two punters, who were both good in the first preseason game. The loser of this battle could possibly get traded for a late-round draft pick before Week 1. We\u2019ll see. This is a good problem for the Steelers to have right now at this position.<\/p>\n
Long Snapper (1)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Christian Kuntz<\/p>\n
Analysis: The Steelers waived LS Tucker Addington before the team\u2019s first preseason game, so that now leaves Kuntz without any competition. He\u2019s the easy choice here for obvious reasons.<\/p>\n
Non-53-Man Spots (2)<\/p>\n
Reserve\/Injured (2)\u00a0 \u2013\u00a0Donald Parham Jr., Dean Lowry<\/p>\n
Analysis: Parham sustained an Achilles injury during OTAs, and he has been on the team\u2019s Reserve\/Injured list ever since. Lowry sustained an ACL injury at the start of training camp and he has since joined Parham on that same list. Here\u2019s to that list not growing anymore in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n
Practice Squad (17)\u00a0 \u2013 WR Max Hurleman, CB Donte Kent, DT\u00a0Logan Lee, CB Cory Trice Jr., WR Brandon Johnson, RB Trey Sermon, ILB\u00a0Carson Bruener, OLB Eku Leota, G\/C Max Scharping, T Steven Jones, G Doug Nester, TE JJ Galbreath, S Sebastian Castro, DT Breiden Fehoko, S Quindell Johnson, RB Lew Nichols, OLB Julius Welschof\u00a0(INT exception)<\/p>\n
Analysis: Another 17 dart throws at practice squad signings and all from the current 91-man roster now that training camp has ended. There are of course several carryovers from my first prediction on this list, but a few new names as well. The Steelers have a history of adding several players released from other NFL teams, so obviously all 17 of my selections won\u2019t hit. It will be interesting, however, to see how many of these 17 players do wind up starting the 2025 regular season on the practice squad.<\/p>\n
Summary: As is usually the case, a lot of these 53-man roster projected players are quite obvious ones. As for changes from my first attempt, there are four players that I changed out. In are Miller, Bishop, Clark and Robinson, and out are Woods, Trice, Bruener and Johnson.<\/p>\n
I have all but two of this year\u2019s draft picks, Bruener and Kent, making the 53-man roster for Week 1. I also have an odd 24\/26 player split on offense and defense on this second roster prediction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Pittsburgh Steelers have now completed their 2025 training camp as of this week and play their second…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":289723,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2026],"tags":[51390,8368,7,5103],"class_list":{"0":"post-289722","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-2025-preseason","9":"tag-53-man-roster","10":"tag-football","11":"tag-predictions"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/115032041965561198","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/289722","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=289722"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/289722\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/289723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=289722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=289722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=289722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}