Bryan: 2026 Steelers 53-Man Roster Prediction: Pre-Training Camp Edition - Steelers Depot

What the report says

Steelers Depot published a pre-training camp projection for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2026 53-man roster as the team was set to report Tuesday to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. The article, framed as an initial prediction before practices and preseason games, says future updates are expected before the first preseason contest and after each preseason game.

On offense, the projection keeps 25 players, including three quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard and Drew Allar. The piece describes Rodgers and Allar as secure choices and gives Howard the early edge over Mason Rudolph for the backup competition. Other notable calls include leaving running back Kaleb Johnson off the initial roster, keeping Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle at running back, listing DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. among six receivers, and projecting Broderick Jones to begin the regular season on Reserve/PUP because of a neck issue.

On defense, the prediction also keeps 25 players. The projected group includes Cameron Heyward and Keeanu Benton on the defensive line, Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson at inside linebacker, T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith at outside linebacker, Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean at cornerback, and Jalen Ramsey, Jaquan Brisker and DeShon Elliott at safety. The article notes some final roster spots are tied to special teams value and remain unsettled entering camp.

The specialist spots are projected for Chris Boswell, Cameron Johnston and Christian Kuntz. Steelers Depot also lists Daequan Hardy on injured reserve, Jones on Reserve/PUP, and a 17-player practice squad that includes Robert Tonyan and Darnell Savage. The roster forecast matters because it outlines early camp competitions, but it is explicitly a prediction rather than a team announcement.