Takeaways from Steelers 53-man roster

Last week the Pittsburgh Steelers released their initial 53-man roster. There were a few surprises, and some questions answered. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest battles over the past month.

The quarterback battle:

It was to no one’s surprise that Russell Wilson was named the starter. Justin Fields flashed his athleticism throughout camp and preseason, but it was always Wilson’s position to lose. Wilson looked good in the final preseason game, connecting with receiver George Pickens on a corner route. Fields struggled with communication, as there were fumbled snaps repeatedly. Fields still has the potential to be the quarterback of the future for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A year mentored by a Hall of Fame quarterback will do wonders for his game, even if his playing time is limited this year.

The receiver room:

The biggest hole on the team must be the wide receiver room. Behind George Pickens, there are huge question marks. The Steelers haven’t done a great job adding to that room after trading away Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. The receiver room currently includes Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller, Pickens, and Roman Wilson. There are a lot of good depth pieces, but they’re missing a true number two receiver. And unless the Steelers can grab a legitimate number two receiver, it is a weak group. But if they can land another solid receiver before the opening game on Sunday, then it could become a strength for this team. The question is, who?

Roster surprises:

Of course, there are always surprises with the initial roster. The first one that came to my mind is Jaylen Elliott making the 53-man roster.

Props to him for taking advantage of his moments (yes, he got burnt a lot in coverage). But his stellar performance on special teams earned him his spot. Another surprise to me was the Steelers keeping eight defensive linemen. Defensive line depth is going to be a key factor late in the season when the Steelers play their toughest opponents. Kyron Johnson was a shock not making the team, but hopefully he comes back on the practice squad. The other roster cut that shocked me was receiver Dez Fitzpatrick. I thought he got better as the preseason went on, but Scotty Miller’s consistency was the reason he was kept over Fitzpatrick. 



What are your thoughts on the Steelers initial 53-man roster?