53-man roster predictions for Steelers

Published August 14th, 9:03 EDT
by Bo Marchionte

Latrobe, PA – There are always a few roster transactions that catch everyone off guard regardless of how in tune you are with the organization. What goes on behind the scenes is for us not to know and to eventually find out.

The tables listed with ‘Steelers Offense Week 1 vs Cincinnati 2022’ are from the flip card given to the media Week 1 off last season when Pittsburgh beat the Bengals 23-20. I like to keep that particular flip card as a reference on what the Steelers might be thinking when trying to calibrate their true intentions when the 53-man roster is prepared prior to cutdown day. This year the date and time to remember is the 29th of August with a deadline at 4 p.m. ET.

Areas of real debate revolve around Gunner Olszewski, who was supposed to be the team’s return specialist last season. He totaled 11 returns in 16 games with eight punt returns and three kick returns. With second-year man Calvin Austin set to take over those duties it leaves Olszewski on the outside looking in. He is always so productive in practice that it makes it even harder to consider he may not make the final cut.

Another noticeable cut is Pressley Harvin III losing out to ex-New York Jets punter Braden Mann. This is a closely contested battle and on a hunch the Steelers make the switch. It’s reminiscent of Pittsburgh letting go of former long snapper Kameron Canaday for their current starter in Christian Kuntz. It appeared unlikely at the time the trigger would be pulled to swap out the players but in the end that’s exactly what unfolded.

The injury to Corey Trice, the Steelers seventh round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft leaves open the opportunity for Elijah Riley to make the roster. Tanner Muse was a special teams ace in Seattle and his departure from the Seahawks looked like a lock to make the Steelers earlier this year, but he’ll be a name to monitor closely as the 29th of August draws near.

Olszewski, Riley, and Muse are the three players that excel on special teams which makes their bending roster acclimation to the final 53 very interesting. It appears that barring any injuries the script is pretty much finished on who the final 53 will consist of when the Steelers take on the San Francisco 49ers on September 10th.

 Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com