The Pittsburgh Steelers made an extremely underrated, but necessary move in the 2024 offseason. Plenty of the conversation surrounding the team has been related to the quarterback and wide receiver positions, but General Manager Omar Khan made it a point to go out and improve a position that has plagued the franchise for years. After drafting Pressley Harvin III in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the team released him in January of 2024 after a rough three seasons. Cameron Johnston was signed early on in the offseason, which provided excitement and assurance for the fan base when it came to punting.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Former Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III walks on the field at Acrisure Stadium prior to a 2022 preseason game in Pittsburgh, PA.
Johnston unfortunately suffered a brutal injury in the team's Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. After signing a three-year, $9 million deal, the punter isn't expected to be on the field any time soon. That led the Steelers to go out with a plan to sign a familiar face in Corliss Waitman, according to Tom Pelissero.
The #Steelers plan to sign punter Corliss Waitman, per his agent Alexa Stabler, after Cameron Johnston suffered a season-ending knee injury Sunday.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 9, 2024
It’s the third stint with Pittsburgh for Waitman, who originally signed there as an undrafted free agent in 2020. pic.twitter.com/57cMZCEcri
Waitman has been with the Steelers a few different times, a Pelissero noted. He has only seen two games of action in the black and gold altogether, but had a decent year for the Denver Broncos back in 2022. Many figured that the familiarity with Harvin could have led to the former seventh-rounder coming back, but it appears that Pittsburgh has seen enough of him to go in a different direction.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A5177-544x306.jpg "Steelers Danny Smith")
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith meets with league officials at the team's training camp while on the field at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The signing of Johnston was a big one for Pittsburgh, but not talked about in depth. Now, it will be highlighted if Waitman comes in and is unable to perform at a high level for the organization. Special teams is an often forgotten part of professional football, but it is imperative. It will also be imperative for Waitman to immediately get on the same page as Chris Boswell and Christian Kuntz, with Waitman expected to be the new holder.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan (left) and Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) sit in the franchise's draft room as they anxiously watch the board in 2023.
Steelers Will Need Very Strong Special Teams Play Throughout 2024 Season
Boswell started out his year with a bang, nailing all six field goals he attempted, but the developing situation with the injury to Johnston could be a crucial one down the stretch. Pittsburgh has the hardest final eight games of any team in the league, and field position will be imperative. The third phase of the game is often underrated, but the Steelers can't afford to get poor play from it.
Do you like the Steelers' signing of Waitman? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
