Steelers release one tight end, sign another

The Pittsburgh Steelers have waived injured tight end Zack Pianalto, and filled his roster spot with undrafted rookie Peter Tuitupou.

Tuitupou is about as unlikely to make the roster as Pianalto, but at least Tuitupou is healthy enough to participate in practices. Pianalto has been dealing with a calf injury, which eventually compelled the team to waive him.

Pianalto becomes the second player of the off-season to be waived injured. Anthony Rashad White was waived earlier this summer. As with White, if Pianalto clears waivers, he will return to the Steelers injured reserve list, and then the off-season roster once the new league year begins in March of 2014.

Tuitupou brings the same level of mediocrity which Pianalto had added to the sixth tight end role in Pittsburgh. A former collegiate teammate of Star Lotulelei, Tuitupou does not possess gaudy college statistics, but does have a slightly more impressive personal record His highlight reel isn't exactly inspriring, but it does provide photographic evidence proving he can make routine, uncontested catches.

Neither Pianalto nor Tuitupou had much chance to surpass the team favored veterans before them on the depth chart. Heath Miller draws a little closer to reclaiming his starting role every day. David Paulson remains one of head coach Mike Tomlin's golden children. Veterans Matt Spaeth and David Johnson were added for their blocking abilities, and journeyman rookie Jamie McCoy seems like the favorite to to fill one of the team's eight practice squad spots, much like he has the past two seasons.

With quarterback draft pick Landry Jones still not under contract, Tuitupou will not be the last roster move of the off-season.