Steelers add two to their practice squad, including WR Anthony Miller

The Pittsburgh Steelers have dealt with a lot the past few weeks. Injuries, players being signed off waivers after the team released them and now they have seen players being poached off their own practice squad.

Tuesday, the Detroit Lions poached cornerback Mark Gilbert off the practice squad, leaving the team with two practice squad openings, the other being the vacancy left when wide receiver Cody White was signed to the 53-man roster.

To fill out the practice squad, the Steelers signed two, while also releasing one. Nose tackle Eli Ankou was released from the practice squad, while wide receiver Anthony Miller and defensive tackle Isaiah Mack were added.

Miller was traded from the Chicago Bears to the Houston Texans this past offseason and appeared in two games for Houston before being released last week. He had five catches for 23 yards and a touchdown in those appearances.

Miller also had 134 catches for 1,564 yards and 11 touchdowns during his three seasons with the Bears, the team who drafted him in the 2018 NFL Draft.

As for Mack, he was signed by the Tennessee Titans as a rookie in 2019, and finished his rookie year with eight tackles, a fumble recovery, and 1.5 sacks. The following season Mack was waived and signed by the New England Patriots and stayed on their practice squad for the duration of the 2020 season. Prior to the 2021 season, Mack was signed by the Denver Broncos, where he was waived on August 31st.

If you follow the numbers, the team had a vacancy after White’s signing, they released Ankou and had Gilbert poached. That leaves three spots open, and they signed two. In other words, they still have one opening on their 16-man practice squad. Expect the Steelers to add a player in the near future, likely based on team need.

In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they prepare for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6 on Sunday Night Football.