The Pittsburgh Steelers have a new and revampled roster heading into the 2025 season. Nearly every skill position on the offensive side of the ball has been changed majorly, or at least has some new faces. Aaron Rodgers is the new starting quarterback, while DK Metcalf will be his top option in the passing game. Jonnu Smith joins the already good group of tight ends on the roster, and Kaleb Johnson and Jaylen Warren are looking to be an electric duo out of the backfield. This has made a lot of fans question the future of veteran running back and return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson, who is still on the roster.
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Steelers running back and return man Cordarrelle Patterson running with the ball during a minicamp practice at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
Patterson signed a two-year deal with Pittsburgh ahead of the 2024 season, and many fans speculated that he would have been released by this point in the 2025 offseason. He didn't have a great year returning kicks for the Steelers, and his impact on offense was minimal at best. Team insider Mike DeFabo was asked about what players might be on the fringe of making the roster in a recent article for The Athletic, and he mentioned Patterson as a top name to keep an eye on.
"Cordarrelle Patterson, once one of the NFL’s elite return men, could find himself on the outside looking in," DeFabo wrote. "The Steelers’ backfield is full with rookie Kaleb Johnson and offseason signing Kenneth Gainwell joining Jaylen Warren. It remains to be seen if Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith will lobby for the hybrid RB/WR to remain on the roster as a Swiss Army knife."
Initially, the signing of Patterson seemed to be almost genius. The NFL was changing the rules on kickoff, and he has excelled as a return man nearly everywhere he has been in the league. He is likely a future Hall of Famer due to his talents on special teams, which made the signing seem great at first.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Cordarrelle Patterson during mandatory minicamp in 2024.
Things did not go so great for Patterson during his first season in Pittsburgh. The Steelers were near the bottom of the league in all kickoff return metrics. Patterson averaged under 22 yards per return, and he did not do a great job of setting the offense up in good field position. In addition to his work on special teams, Patterson also occasionally lined up at running back for the Steelers. He carried the ball 32 times for 135 yards while losing one fumble. He did also catch 12 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.
With Warren, Johnson, and Kenneth Gainwell, there is no real reason for Patterson to have any chance of making the final roster. Warren and Gainwell have experience returning kicks, and all three backs are going to need some touches out of the backfield. There is likely no room for Patterson on offense, unless Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith fights for one of his favorite players to have a role in 2025.
Steelers Have Other Players On The Fringe Of Making The Final Roster
Cutting the training camp roster down to 53 players for the regular season is always a difficult task, and it is extremely hard to predict. Many factors go into it, including versatility and whether or not the players present any value on special teams. DeFabo mentioned a pair of defenders who could be worried about their job security.
"Other players to watch include DeMarvin Leal, a 2022 third-round pick who never carved out a niche as a tweener on the defense front, and Cole Holcomb, who was once a do-everything, three-down inside linebacker before a gruesome knee injury derailed his career in 2023," DeFabo wrote. "I think Holcomb still makes the team, but I’m unsure about the others."
DeMarvin Leal has been very inconsistent since being drafted back in 2022, and Cole Holcomb is in the process of bouncing back from a rough knee injury he suffered in 2023.
Justin K. Aller / Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb is looking to bounce back after a season-ending knee injury in 2023.
It caused him to miss the entire 2024 season, but he is ready to return to action in 2025. His roster spot is likely safe, but it is an interesting situation to monitor.
What do you want to see happen with Patterson? Let us know in the comments below!
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