When should Steelers fans expect the team to make a roster move this preseason?

Steelers fans have had 10 weeks to familiarize themselves with the 91 players heading to Latrobe for the 2019 training camp. Unfortunately, time may be limited until the roster will experience a change. If recent years have been an indicator, training camp won’t even be a week old before there is a new Steeler on the field.

Looking at the last four seasons, the Steelers have been fairly consistent with their transactions as camp begins. Prior to 2015, the Steelers have made transactions on the opening day of camp three of the five seasons between 2010 and 2014. For consistency sake, the last four training camps will give the best indication of what could be expected when it comes to roster changes.

In 2018, the Steelers released offensive lineman Bryce Harris for a non-football injury the first day of practice. In 2017, Steelers free-agent signee Damien Stafford did not report to camp so the Steelers signed another player. Ignoring this strange situation, it was the six day of training camp before the Steelers made another transaction. In 2016 and 2015, both years brought the opening transaction on the fourth day of camp. In all four seasons, the initial transaction was due to injury with the exception of the Stafford situation.

Since injuries are not something which can be predicted, the first transaction strictly for performance purposes occur slightly later into camp. The Steelers decided to cut ties with a player and sign another eight days in the camp in 2018, 2016, and 2015. In 2017, the Steelers made it an extra day all the way to the ninth day of training camp before making a roster move.

If using the last four years as a predictor, the Steelers are likely to make a roster move due to injury within the first four days of camp. If the Steelers are lucky and avoid injuries altogether, they should still be expected to make a roster move in about eight days.

Whether or not you feel past seasons can be a predictor as to when the Steelers will make a roster move, changes to the roster for are inevitable during training camp. The Steelers made six roster changes prior to cut downs in 2018 which was nearly half as few as the previous three seasons. So when the Steelers announce players being released and new ones signed, it should not come as a surprise.