As the Pittsburgh Steelers are about to kick off training camp in Latrobe, several former players are finding their new homes this week. For a few of them, it could be their last real opportunity at making a 53-man roster.
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Veteran offensive guard Trai Turner made a brief pit stop with the Steelers in 2021, and he has now landed with the New Orleans Saints.
Offensive guard Trai Turner has found a new home, as he signed with the New Orleans Saints. He will enter his 10th season in the NFL with the Saints. Turner, a former five-time Pro Bowler with the Carolina Panthers, made a brief pit stop in 2021 with the Steelers when he started all 17 games. It came with some mixed results, and he should provide some solid depth for the NFC South squad. It'll be Turner's fifth different team in the past five seasons, and the Saints also signed TE Jimmy Graham.
Linebacker Buddy Johnson didn't get much of an opportunity in Pittsburgh. Selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the team gave up on him pretty quickly. In fact, he appeared in just four games for the Steelers. Johnson played just six defensive snaps with the team, in addition to 59 reps on special teams. On Tuesday, the Texas A&M product landed with the Chicago Bears. Just a year ago, NFL Network selected him as their breakout player for 2022. Well, he didn't even end up making the 53-man roster.
The Steelers let two key special teamers walk this offseason in Benny Snell Jr. and Marcus Allen. While neither of them established roles on offense or defense, they provided an impact over the years on special teams. It appears as if both of them could be finding a new home just ahead of the start of training camp. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Snell tried out for the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week.
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While Benny Snell Jr. didn't become a successful running back, the Steelers will miss his special teams presence in 2023.
That's not the only AFC West squad that he has been connected with this summer, as he worked out for the Denver Broncos just over a month ago. In four seasons with the Steelers, Snell ran for 982 yards as well as seven touchdowns. The 2019 fourth-rounder saw a total of just 56 carries over the past two seasons, which came with mixed results.
Will Steelers miss Terrell Edmunds in 2023?
On Tuesday, Marcus Allen worked out for the Philadelphia Eagles. Earlier this offseason, the Eagles picked up former Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds. That's not the only former Steelers player that has been connected to the Eagles. On Wednesday, the team made it official that they signed wide receiver Deon Cain. Cain starred for the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL this past season.
In the championship, his three-touchdown performance led to the Stallions hoisting the trophy. The former Steelers wideout won MVP as a result, and now he returns to the NFL. In 2019, he caught five passes for 72 yards with the Steelers. Now, he'll be trying to earn a spot on the Eagles' 53-man roster.
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Former Steelers cornerback Mark Gilbert has struggled to stay healthy in his NFL career, but he could find a potential home with the Denver Broncos.
According to Denver Broncos beat reporter Mike Klis, the AFC West squad brought in cornerback Mark Gilbert for a tryout on Monday. That may not be a name that many people remember, as he's been on the Steelers' practice squad for two separate stints. He has plenty of talent, but has struggled with staying healthy. There hasn't been an update since Monday, so he remains unsigned for now.
Will the Steelers miss the special teams presences of guys like Allen and Snell this season? What went wrong for Buddy Johnson in Pittsburgh? Does Cain have a chance to make an impact in Philadelphia? Share your thoughts on this recent news regarding former Steelers players from around the league!
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