Steelers general manager Omar Khan met the media yesterday to talk about the team’s decision-making in crafting the initial 53-man roster for this season.
The big question for Khan and the Steelers remains whether or not Joey Porter Jr. will sign a long-term contract. He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal and has not come to terms yet on an extension, and the Steelers do not negotiate once the season starts.
Khan is hopeful that a deal can get done.
While much of the training camp talk has been about the four quarterbacks the team will take into the season, the rebuilt receiving corps has been quietly coming together, and Khan says younger players like Germie Bernard and Roman Wilson have had a good spring and summer, blending in with veterans DK Metcalfe and Michael Pittman Jr.
Khan says new head coach Mike McCarthy’s staff has already worked well with the Steelers’ younger players, and with eleven rookies making the team, they’ve got plenty of work still to do.
On the injury front, Khan says the decision to have DeShon Elliott start the season on injured reserve was just “the right thing to do…to be smart” as the safety continues to return from a significant knee injury suffered last season.
Khan said Will Howard and Ben Skowronek suffered concussions against the Bills in last week’s final preseason game but are expected back at practice soon. Also, receivers DK Metcalfe and Michael Pittman Jr., fullback/tight end Riley Nowalkowski, safety Jaquan Brisker, and defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day are all “trending positively” to return to work.
The Steelers welcome Atlanta to Accrisure Stadium for the season opener on September 13th.
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