The NFL preseason is half over, and for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s been quite productive. With the changes in cutdown rules, the Steelers still have plenty of time to make roster decisions before trimming down to the final 53-man roster. Here are five guys firmly on the roster bubble with two games left to play.
LB Sutton Smith
Hopes were high for Smith when the Steelers drafted him, but injuries have kept him out of practice and prevented him from playing in a preseason game. With other young players stepping up in expanded roles, Smith’s best shot might be to get stashed on the practice squad if he can’t get healthy in the next two weeks.
DL Henry Mondeaux
Mondeaux has played well this preseason in limited opportunities. But there are only so many spots on the defensive line that are open. With guys like Tyson Alualu and Isaiah Buggs playing so well, the odds are long that Mondeaux makes the final roster unless the Steelers keep an extra defensive lineman at the expense of a defensive back or linebacker.
WR Eli Rogers
This was supposed to finally be Rogers’ year. Antonio Brown is gone, and Rogers had the perfect chance to secure a spot on the depth chart. But things just haven’t gone according to plan. Diontae Johnson has been tremendous, and guys like Ryan Switzer and Diontae Spencer have stepped up, putting Rogers’ spot on the roster in severe jeopardy.
S Jordan Dangerfield
There are plenty of fans rooting for Dangerfield to finally get his shot as the team’s primary backup safety. If Dangerfield can’t lock one down this year, he might never get a shot. Unfortunately, with Marcus Allen and Kameron Kelly leading the pack to back up Sean Davis and Terrell Edmunds and the emergence of rookies P.J. Locke and Dravon Askew-Henry, Dangerfield might not be able to win a spot.
TE Xavier Grimble
Another guy who has been biding his time to finally be an impact player is Grimble. He’s more athletic than any other tight end on the roster, but he’s competing with two other players who provide similar skills. If the Steelers feel like they have seen everything they will from Grimble, they could keep Zach Gentry and Kevin Rader to back up Vance McDonald.
