The Pittsburgh Steelers finalized their 53-man roster on Sunday by trading running back Kaleb Johnson to the Green Bay Packers, releasing veteran inside linebackers Elandon Roberts and Malik Harrison, and making the unorthodox decision to keep all four quarterbacks on the active squad.
Sunday evening brought a flurry of roster maneuvers across the organization as leadership trimmed the squad down to the league-mandated limit. The adjustments reshaped the running back rotation, cleared vital salary cap room, and left the team carrying an unusual four-quarterback room into the opening weeks of the season.
Running Back Shakeup and the Departure of Kaleb Johnson
Selected with the No. 83 pick in the 2025 draft, Johnson struggled through his rookie campaign, logging just 28 carries for 69 yards across 10 games.
His offensive opportunities were limited, and his most notable setback occurred during a Week 2 game against Seattle last season. Failing to field a kickoff in the field of play, Johnson allowed the Seahawks to recover the ball in the end zone for a touchdown that gave Seattle a 24-14 lead early in the fourth quarter in a game the Steelers ultimately lost 31-17. As NFL.com noted, then-coach Mike Tomlin ended Johnson’s special teams duties following the miscue, and the running back saw just 50 offensive snaps all year.
Under the direction of head coach Mike McCarthy, the Steelers signed veteran running back Rico Dowdle to pair with Jaylen Warren. Dowdle brings a physical element that rendered Johnson’s roster spot superfluous, while Travis Homer secured a depth role as a reliable pass-catching option.
Unorthodox Quarterback Decision and Contract Standoffs
In a decision that bucks traditional roster construction, the Steelers kept four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster.
McCarthy expressed confidence in the group during training camp.
“I feel good about the quarterback room. I’ve been saying it for quite some time. They’ve showed it on the field. We’ve got two veterans that we can win with, and we’ve got two young guys that we’re really excited about their future.”
Mike McCarthy, Head Coach
Meanwhile, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. remained a central question heading into the cutdown deadline. Spending the preseason on the physically unable to perform list due to a back injury while seeking a new contract, Porter and the organization reached an impasse
in negotiations, The Athletic reported. McCarthy acknowledged that Porter participated in a workout in Pittsburgh, but the team faced a strict Sunday deadline either to activate him or leave him on the reserve/PUP list for at least the first four regular-season games.
Cap Space Management and Defensive Adjustments
To finalize the roster, the Steelers also released veteran inside linebackers Elandon Roberts and Malik Harrison hours before the league deadline. Harrison was set to make $4.75 million in salary this season following a two-year, $10 million deal signed the prior year. Releasing him and restructuring DK Metcalf’s contract—which freed up nearly $18 million in cap space the previous week—provided the franchise with financial flexibility heading into the season.
On the injury front, the team placed safety DeShon Elliott on the Reserve/Injured list with a designation to return. Elliott suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 8 of the previous season, and Steelers Depot noted that he must miss at least the first four games of the 2026 campaign. Despite looking impressive in limited preseason action and earning an elite Pro Football Focus grade against the Jets, Elliott sat out subsequent practices after McCarthy reported he was feeling it a bit
.
The team will navigate the early stretch of the schedule relying on veteran depth like Rayshawn Jenkins and rookie seventh-rounder Robert Spears-Jennings.
