Pittsburgh Steelers

DeShon Elliott

S

Elliott was limited to just five regular-season games in 2025 due to a knee injury, with his last game taking place Week 8 against the Packers. He appears to be fully healthy for the start of training camp and projects to start alongside Jaquan Brisker at safety, with Darnell Savage providing depth at the position.

Roman Wilson

WR

"He's done a heck of a job inside, and I haven't even talked to him about this yet, but I think we can start working him a little bit more outside, too," McCarthy said of Wilson. "He can line up at X, Z and F, and so far, he's done exactly what we asked." Wilson is competing with rookie second-round pick Germie Bernard for the third spot on Pittsburgh's wide receiver depth chart behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman. Bernard got most of the first-team slot reps at Friday's practice, per Alan Saunders of Steelers Now, while Wilson worked mostly on the outside with the second-team offense, which marks a departure from previous practices, when Wilson played primarily in the slot.

Germie Bernard

WR

Bernard is competing for the third spot on the wide receiver depth chart with Roman Wilson, who mostly worked on the outside with the second-team offense Friday. That usage marked a departure from Wednesday's practice, when Wilson logged most of the reps in three-receiver sets alongside DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman. Bernard has also seen some time on the outside, with Wilson shifting into the slot, so the Steelers are still identifying their best combinations and pecking order at wide receiver at this early stage of training camp. Bernard is a rookie second-round pick, while Wilson was a third-round selection in 2024.

Rico Dowdle

RB

Dowdle was first up for first-team reps on Thursday after Warren worked ahead of him Wednesday. Dowdle joins Pittsburgh after back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons and brings prior familiarity with new coach Mike McCarthy, giving him a real chance to push Warren for the lead committee role. That said, Warren's receiving ability gives him a strong path to consistent touches, and it remains to be seen whether Dowdle's bruising between-the-tackles style will allow him to secure the majority of goal-line work. Pittsburgh's backfield competition will be one to track closely during training camp.

Jaylen Warren

RB

Warren worked ahead of Dowdle on Wednesday but was the second running back up Thursday. While Warren remains the incumbent in this backfield and holds a steady role in the receiving game, Dowdle's arrival and familiarity with new head coach Mike McCarthy make this a murky situation. Warren's upside will depend on whether he can separate enough to avoid a full committee, and whether he or Dowdle gets distinct priority on early downs and near the goal line.

Mason Rudolph

QB

Rudolph received reps in the two-minute drill Tuesday, outperforming starter Aaron Rodgers and gaining an opportunity that Will Howard and Drew Allar did not have. The 31-year-old veteran quarterback continues to separate as the clear No. 2, and with Rodgers already declaring 2026 his retirement season, it is reasonable to assume that Rudolph could see some regular-season action.

Aaron Rodgers

QB

Rodgers said the exact same thing back in May after re-signing with the Steelers but again confirmed it when he reported to training camp Tuesday. "I thought last year might be it," Rodgers said. "And then Mike [McCarthy] got hired, and I talked to the wife and she said, 'You can do one more year.' I said, 'Well, we'll see if it works out.' And then it kind of all came together." Headed into his 22nd season, Rodgers is coming off a 2025 campaign that saw him complete 65.7 percent of his passes for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns versus just seven interceptions. His career 1.4 percent interception rate and 102.2 passer rating are the best in NFL history.

Drew Allar

QB

Allar is set to compete with Will Howard, working with "the other groups" as Mason Rudolph takes snaps with the second-team offense. With Aaron Rodgers currently set to remain as the No. 1 quarterback, Allar and Howard will need to fight to take the No. 3 spot on the depth chart.

Joey Porter Jr.

CB

Porter was off to the side on an exercise bike during spring practices, and he aggravated a back issue Tuesday morning, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. There's been no indication Porter is dealing with a long-term issue. He dealt with elbow, hip and hamstring injuries last season, limiting him to 14 regular-season contests.

Broderick Jones

OT

Jones suffered a neck injury in Week 12 that kept him out for the rest of the 2025 season. The 25-year-old's return makes for an interesting competition at Pittsburgh's tackle positions. With Troy Fautanu presumably locked in at one of the tackle spots, the other starting role will likely come down to Jones or Max Iheanachor, whom Pittsburgh drafted No. 21 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Given the team declined to pick up Jones' fifth-year option, his future on the roster could be in doubt if he's unable to win the starting job.

Donte Kent

CB

Kent went down with a foot injury at the start of 2025 training camp but returned in December only to suffer a torn ACL, derailing his rookie season. The 2025 seventh-round pick will need to be cleared in order to practice, and the recovery timeline could impact his ability to make the roster after Pittsburgh drafted Daylen Everette in the third round this past draft.

Jalen Ramsey

CB

According to GM Omar Khan, Ramsey suffered a knee injury during the team's minicamp, but the defensive back's absence isn't expected to be a lengthy one. "We're going to be smart about it. He's a pro," said Khan. "You guys know how hard he works. If I had to guess I would say it's probably going to be a couple of weeks." Once he's cleared to practice, Ramsey will reclaim his key role in Pittsburgh's secondary, on the heels of a 2025 regular season in which he recorded 88 tackles and a pick in 17 games.

DK Metcalf

WR

Metcalf played just over 14 percent of his offensive snaps out of the slot last regular season, so perhaps the new coaching staff in Pittsburgh has a plan to get him more looks inside, which would translate to easier "layup" style catches and allow Metcalf to make plays with the ball in his hands. "We need him going," McCarthy said. "DK can change games." In his first season with Pittsburgh in 2025, Metcalf recorded a career-low 850 receiving yards on 59 catches across 15 regular-season contests. Headed into his second season with Aaron Rodgers, both players will aim for improved chemistry.

Pat Freiermuth

TE

Freiermuth was targeted only 54 times in 17 regular-season games in 2025, tying Jonnu Smith for the lead among Pittsburgh's tight ends while Darnell Washington drew 43 targets. Smith is no longer on the team, and while the Steelers made a high-profile addition at wide receiver by bringing in Michael Pittman, they also lost running back Kenneth Gainwell, who led the team with 73 catches last season. It's worth noting Aaron Rodgers typically hasn't relied heavily on tight ends, as no player at the position has recorded more than 767 receiving yards in a regular season on a team quarterbacked by Rodgers.

Michael Pittman Jr.

WR

Pittman joined Pittsburgh via trade from the Colts back in March, and it seems his fit in McCarthy's offense will extend beyond just providing Aaron Rodgers with another big-bodied target opposite DK Metcalf. McCarthy's comments suggest Pittman will be moved around the formation rather than limited to a possession role. The 28-year-old's fantasy ceiling will still depend on Pittsburgh's quarterback play and target distribution, but a more varied route tree could help Pittman maintain a steady weekly floor.

Kaleb Johnson

RB

Johnson, whom the Steelers took in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, recorded just 28 carries for 69 yards and one catch for nine yards over 10 regular-season games as a rookie. With Warren and Dowdle clearly atop the team's RB depth chart in 2026, Johnson doesn't have a clear path to steady carries in his second year as a pro. Also in the backfield mix are Travis Homer, Lew Nichols and rookie seventh-rounder Eli Heidenreich, but in any case Johnson will be off the fantasy lineup radar as long as Warren and Dowdle are available.

Eli Heidenreich

RB

Heidenreich excelled as both a wideout and running back in college with Navy, and Steelers running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung Sr. has fittingly referred to the rookie as a "Swiss Navy knife." That seemingly boosts Heidenreich's chances of making the opening 53-man roster, but DeFabo still sees the seventh-round draft pick as more likely to begin his NFL career on the practice squad. Still, Heidenreich is an intriguing young player due to his unique skill set, which also includes the ability to return kicks. Should Pittsburgh decide to open up the playbook more, Heidenreich could fit in as a change-of-pace weapon, though he's probably going to need to prove capable in pass protection -- something he was rarely asked to do while at Navy.

Jacoby Windmon

LB

Winmon spent parts of the 2024 and 2025 seasons on the Steelers' practice squad, and he's back with the team ahead of training camp. He'll be vying for a depth spot in the front seven on Pittsburgh's 53-man roster in 2026.

Levi Wentz

WR

Wentz was initially signed by Seattle as an undrafted free agent in May, but he was waived last week. The Kansas product now will get a look in Pittsburgh. He'll be a longshot to make the season-opening roster, but it's nonetheless a favorable situation for Wentz given the Steelers' lack of experienced wideouts behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman.

Joaquin Davis

WR

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound wide receiver spent time on the Vikings practice squad in 2025 and during the 2026 offseason prior to being waived last week. Davis, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft, has yet to make his regular-season debut.

Jamin Davis

LB

Davis was cut by Las Vegas back in April, and now he'll be linking up with his fourth different team in as many years. All of two-time Pro Bowler Patrick Queen, 2024 third-rounder Payton Wilson, Malik Harrison and veteran Cole Holcomb are expected to contribute at inside linebacker for Pittsburgh in 2026, which doesn't leave much room for the free agent signing Davis to make an immediate impact.

Robert Tonyan

TE

Coming off the heels of a season in which he suited up for 17 games with Kansas City, Tonyan is now joining his fifth different team in as many years. Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington are returning at tight end for the Steelers, but they released veteran Jonnu Smith back in March, so there's room for Tonyan to potentially snag a spot on the 53-man roster for 2026.

Darnell Washington

TE

Since Pittsburgh selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Washington has been used regularly in an offense that trots out multiple tight ends on most offensive snaps, ranging from 497 to 543 plays per season. He set or matched career highs across the board in 2025 with a 31-364-1 line on 43 targets across 16 regular-season games, and with Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward exiting as free agents this offseason, Washington now has only Pat Freiermuth as notable competition for TE reps for the upcoming campaign.

Nick Herbig

LB

Herbig is coming off the best season of his young career -- he registered 7.5 sacks over 15 regular-season games in 2025 even as he played behind four-time All-Pro T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Both Watt and Highsmith figure to return in 2026, limiting Herbig's opportunities, but he'll still technically be playing on his rookie deal until 2027.

Dean Lowry

DT

The veteran defensive lineman from Northwestern missed all of last season due to a knee injury. Across 12 regular-season appearances in 2024, Lowry posted five total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, and one pass defensed. He's expected to compete for a depth role on the Steelers' defensive line.