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The Pittsburgh Steelers are made a roster move on their 80-man offseason roster, and that move would be the signing of linebacker Jayrone Elliott. After a workout with the team last week, the team decided to bring back the linebacker who spent five weeks with the team in 2019.
This per Mike Grafalo of the NFL Network:
#Steelers are signing LB Jayrone Elliott after working him out this week, source says. He was with them for five games last season.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 27, 2020
To make room for Elliott, the Steelers released inside linebacker Leo Lewis, but the Steelers could use the extra edge rusher with Bud Dupree banged up. The Steelers also added another long snapper Liam McCullough with the knee injury to Kameron Canaday. The corresponding roster move was the wide receiver Anthony Johnson was waived/injured.
The #Steelers have signed LS Liam McCullough and a familiar face in LB Jayrone Elliott.
— Missi Matthews (@missi_matthews) August 27, 2020
To make room on the 80-man roster, they
released LB Leo Lewis and waived/injured WR Anthony Johnson. #SteelersCamp
Elliott has a familiarity with the Steelers, spending five regular season games with the team in 2019, primarily on special teams, and it is this kind of familiarity which can help a player’s case when trying to find their way back into the league.
Wednesday Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert spoke about the decision making process for roster moves, and the expanded practice squad which includes veterans certainly has played a big role for the Steelers.
“When we got the new rules and understanding that up to six veteran players can be part of your practice squad,” Colbert explained, “that changed our thinking because, quite honestly, when we look for players that we call futures that we sign in the offseason if they don’t have practice squad eligibility we’re a little reluctant to sign those types because either make your team or the don’t. But since now it’s a possibility, we decided let’s look for that young veteran that if he doesn’t make your team, he could be eligible for your practice squad.”
As for McCullough, he spent four years as the long snapper at Ohio State and was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Las Vegas Raiders following the 2020 NFL draft. McCullough was released in early August as part of cutting rosters down for 90 to 80 to begin training camp workouts.
The Steelers will have a couple weeks to decide who makes their 53-man regular season roster, but in the meantime the offseason roster remains fluid. Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding this transaction, and other news surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the 2020 regular season.