It’s game week! The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to take on the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 of the 2021 regular season. With the team getting a ‘bonus practice’ in on Monday after not having played in more than a week, there are several players with new jersey numbers for the 2021 season which have been reported.
Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) number updates
— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl_jersey_num) September 6, 2021
#40 Jamir Jones
#45 Buddy Johnson
#93 Joe Schobert
There were obviously going to be a few changes in jersey numbers coming as the Steelers had two pairs of players who made the 53-man roster and had duplicate numbers. The first of these were fullback Derek Watt and outside linebacker Jamir Jones, who were both wearing No. 44 throughout the training camp. With Jones making the roster, for his first NFL season, the middle Watt brother had seniority in keeping the number. Jones instead opted for the No. 40 which was worn this preseason by Tegray Scales and Tony Brooks-James. Scales was waived on August 14 to make room on the roster for Joe Schobert, and Brooks-James failed to make the 53-man roster.
The other set of duplicate numbers belong to 2021 fourth-round draft pick Buddy Johnson, as well as free agent acquisition guard Trai Turner. With Turner already having seven years of NFL experience, Johnson took on a new number of 45 for the season. This number was used in the preseason by Joe Schobert after he was acquired via trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Schobert gave up his No. 45 and opted for No. 93 instead. This number was initially claimed by defensive tackle Demarcus Christmas, who was placed on the Reserve/Injured List prior to training camp.
There was one other jersey number which needed to be taken care of for the recently acquired cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.
one more (@steelers) jersey number update
— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl_jersey_num) September 6, 2021
#25 Ahkello Witherspoon
Taking the No. 25, this was the jersey number of Steelers 2020 sixth-round draft pick in Antoine Brooks Jr. Unfortunately, Brooks was placed on the Waived/Injured List and was recently signed to the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad after receiving an injury settlement from the Steelers.
So there you have it, Steelers fans, the jersey numbers for the 2021 season appear to be locked in. If you were ready to rush out to get your Jamir Jones, Buddy Johnson, Joe Schobert, or Akhello Witherspoon jerseys, you now have a number to go along with the name.
Stay tuned to Behind The Steel Curtain as the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for Week 1 of the 2021 NFL regular season against the Bills in Buffalo at 1 PM this Sunday.
UPDATE: The Steelers Media Website has added the numbers to the players on the practice squad who did not spend the 2021 preseason with the Steelers. It is interesting that one player has reportedly been given the same number as Devin Bush. The numbers are as follows:
Daniel Archibong #61
Karl Joseph #30
Christian Miller #55
Stephen Sims #82
Derrek Tuszka #48
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