Steelers Begin To Trim Roster By Cutting 8
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.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: S Sean Chandler
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DE Demone Harris
- Released: OT LaColby Tucker
- Placed on IR: LB Adetokunbo Ogundeji
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from PUP: LB Tyler Matakevich
Houston Texans
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): OT Jacky Chen
- Released from IR: OT Greg Little
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: TE Jody Fortson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Matt Hankins, RB Aaron Shampklin
Miami Dolphins
- Waived from IR: WR Freddie Swain
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: LB William Kwenkeu
New England Patriots
- Waived: LS Tucker Addington, DE DaMarcus Mitchell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Nevelle Clarke, RB Xazavian Valladay
- Waived: RB John Lovett
Sean Chandler brings 64 games of experience to Arizona. Following a 2021 campaign that saw him collect a career-high 48 tackles in 15 games (seven starts) for the Panthers, the 27-year-old got into 17 games for the team in 2022, finishing with 19 tackles while primarily playing on special teams.
Adetokunbo Ogundeji is a tough loss for the Falcons, as the linebacker has turned into an important piece on Atlanta’s defense. The former fifth-round pick has started 27 of his 32 games since entering the NFL, collecting 75 tackles and three sacks. Ogundeji suffered a foot/ankle injury that will require surgery, and his placement on IR means the issue will ultimately knock him out for the entire 2023 campaign.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/14/23
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Bless Austin
- Waived/injured: WR Frank Darby
- Released from IR: WR Chris Blair
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR J.J. Koski
- Waived: LB Ray Wilborn
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Avery Davis, C Alex Mollette
- Waived/injured: WR Trey Quinn
Houston Texans
- Waived: WR Victor Bolden
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DB Teez Tabor
- Waived: S Aaron Maddox
- Released from IR: RB Zavier Scott
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from active/PUP list: OL Ben Bartch
- Signed: LS Carson Tinker
- Placed on IR: DL Henry Mondeaux
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: RB Larry Rountree
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: DB Richard LeCounte
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Chim Okorafor
- Waived: T Jacky Chen
New York Giants
- Activated from active/PUP list: DL D.J. Davidson
New York Jets
- Signed: DE Jalyn Holmes
- Placed on IR: DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Olive Sagapolu
- Placed on IR: LB Shaun Bradley (story)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Nevelle Clarke, CB Lavert Hill
- Waived: CB Isaiah Dunn
- Waived/injured: CB Duke Dawson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Jacques Patrick, DL Kyle Peko
- Activated from active/PUP list: DB Josh Thompson
- Placed on IR: DT Shakel Brown
- Waived: DB Chris Jackson
Bartch started the Jaguars’ first five games last season but went down with a knee injury in October. The fourth-year veteran will give the Jags an option at left guard, where he started last season. A former fourth-round pick, Bartch also started 11 games in 2021. This marks a return for Tinker, whose NFL entrance came as a Jaguars UDFA in 2013. Tinker spent the first four seasons of his career with the Jags but did not see action in 2017, 2019 or 2020. He worked as the Seahawks’ full-time long snapper last season. Ross Matiscik has been Jacksonville’s deep snapper for the past three seasons.
Austin spent last season out of football but has 17 starts to his credit. Used as a regular Jets starter from 2019-20, Austin caught on with the Seahawks in 2021. Seattle used Austin as a backup. The young cornerback could not make the Broncos’ 53-man roster last summer. While a member of the 2022 Seahawks, Tabor converted from cornerback to safety. The former second-round pick played 10 games for the team last season.
Vikings Sign 12 UDFAs
On Monday, the Vikings formally signed a dozen undrafted free agents:
- Brady Aiello, T (Oregon)
- Jake Bargas, TE (North Carolina)
- Dan Chisena, WR (Penn State)
- Nevelle Clarke, CB (UCF)
- Quartney Davis, WR (Texas A&M)
- Myles Dorn, S (UNC)
- Jordan Fehr, LB (Appalachian State)
- Nakia Griffin-Stewart, TE (Pittsburgh)
- Tyler Higby, G (Michigan State)
- Jake Lacina, C (Augustana)
- Blake Lynch, LB (Baylor)
- David Moa, DT (Boise State)
The Vikings gave Davis a $100K guarantee (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle), a sizable sum for UDFAs. Davis is coming off of solid back-to-back seasons with the Aggies and many expect him to hear his name called on Day 3. In 2019, he caught 54 passes for 616 yards and four touchdowns. Davis and Chisena will fight for a place on the WR depth chart, which also includes first-round pick Justin Jefferson and fifth-round choice K.J. Osborn.
Clarke, meanwhile, fetched a total guarantee of $115K (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press) and Aiello has $45K locked in (Twitter link via Wilson).