After finishing up the preseason this past Thursday, the Steelers are wasting little time in beginning to form their initial 53-man roster. The team still has a few days before they need to get all the way down to 53 players, but here are the eight the team has already decided won’t be onhand to start the season:
- WR Dan Chisena
- CB Nevelle Clarke
- LB Kuony Deng
- CB Madre Harper
- DE James Nyamwaya
- K B.T. Potter
- LB Forrest Rhyne
- LS Rex Sunahara
Chisena was a longshot to make the 53-man roster at a position that should have plenty of serviceable options in the two-deep. With Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Allen Robinson II locking down the starting three positions, Pittsburgh really only has to determine which three or four guys to keep out of Calvin Austin III, Miles Boykin, Gunner Olszewski, Dez Fitzpatrick, Jordan Byrd, and Aron Cruickshank.
On defense, a new-look cornerbacks group will not include Clarke or Harper. Harper is the more experienced of the two and should find a practice squad spot somewhere or even an opportunity to make an active roster elsewhere. The same applies to Rhyne, a former FCS first-team All-American out of Villanova. Rhyne had some NFL snaps as a rookie in Indianapolis and should find more NFL opportunities in the future.
Lastly, neither undrafted special teamer will end up unseating the incumbents. Potter will look for his next destination as Chris Boswell remains the guy in Pittsburgh, and Sunahara will move on after failing to surpass Christian Kuntz.
