The NFL carried over some successful rules from the 2020 season, including practice squad protections. Teams can protect up to four of the most valued players on their practice squad each week, preventing them from being signed by other teams.
Teams that play on Sundays can designate protected players each Tuesday at 4 p.m.
The Steelers protected former Raiders defensive back Karl Joseph and newly-signed defensive end Taco Charlton. Running back Jaylen Samuels and linebacker Derrek Tuszka round out Week 3 protections. These four are not eligible to sign with another team until after Sunday’s game.
Pittsburgh welcomes the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals for its second consecutive home game this Sunday, Sept. 26.
