The Pittsburgh Steelers were back at practice this week as they prepared for the grueling road ahead. The air at Saint Vincent College was thick with the sound of pads crunching into each other for the first time this summer. For fans, punters, and the media, it was a chance to witness the physicality to come first-hand. From the team’s POV, it was also a moment to confirm some roster changes.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) trains at Saint Vincent College during the 2025 Steelers Training Camp on Thursday July 24, 2025 in Latrobe, PA.
Among them, the Steelers have confirmed the release of veteran return man and running back Cordarrelle Patterson. Wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig met with the same fate. In addition, Jeremiah Moon joined Lemonious-Craig as both were waived with injury designations. These changes came ahead of the first padded session of the training camp and signaled the team’s intent to fine tune the squad before preseason matches officially kick-off.
Despite all these changes, vacant spots have also been dealt with swiftly. For one, there was the signing of Domenique Davis, Kevin Foelsch, and Lew Nicols. All three will have a chance to make an impact soon as padded practices continue.
Now closely followed by fans and punters alike, the underpinnings of team news go beyond football reasons. For punters, despite the Steelers only sporting Super Bowl odds of +3500, there are many other markets and ways to bet on them. With the rapidly growing popularity of online betting on sports across Pennsylvania and beyond, team news plays a larger role than ever now.
Online sportsbooks in 2025 offer a wide range of preseason player props, roster battle odds, and team win totals. As a result, any bit of team news is now followed just as closely by punters as it is by fans.
For those keeping a close eye, Patterson’s release was confirmed by the team after initial reports emerged the day before. The 33-year-old, who signed with Pittsburgh during free agency, was thought to be a potential fit under the NFL’s new kickoff return rules. His release suggests the team has confidence in its younger options at both the returner and depth running back positions.
Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette
Former 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 is one of the most decorated return specialists in league history. Across his career, he has earned four All-Pro nods as a return man and was widely respected for his versatility. His role with Pittsburgh, however, remained unclear from the beginning. While his experience was valuable, the emergence of younger, faster options in camp may have made the decision easier for the coaching staff.
Meanwhile, Montana Lemonious-Craig, an undrafted rookie out of Arizona, had been turning heads during the early days of camp. According to team insiders and beat reporters like Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Lemonious-Craig was developing a strong connection with rookie quarterback Will Howard during team drills. His release due to injury is a blow to his roster hopes, though there remains a possibility he could return.
Moon, on the other hand, brought more experience to the table. The former Florida Gator played in 21 games over the past two seasons, mostly in a depth and special teams role with the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders. He even notched a defensive start last year in Week 3 against the Raiders.
In terms of additions, Davis (UNC Pembroke alum) has spent time with the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals. Known for his size and strength at the point of attack, Davis provides interior depth as the now legendary Cam Heyward continues to get longer in the tooth. Foelsch is a local player and a developmental tight end who has impressed scouts.
As practices continue this week, the Steelers coaching staff, led by Mike Tomlin, will focus on physicality, tackling technique, and conditioning. Tomlin is known for testing player toughness during these first full-contact sessions, which often reveal who is ready for real competition. For fringe roster players, every rep counts.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mike Tomlin addresses his team after a training camp practice ahead of the 2025 season.
While some of Tuesday’s cuts were injury-driven, Patterson’s release stands out due to his high profile and career accomplishments. It underscores the team’s commitment to building for the future and trusting in its youth movement. Younger players like Roman Wilson, Calvin Austin III, and Jaylen Warren may now see an uptick in reps across special teams and offensive packages.
It’s also worth noting that the Steelers remain one of the more active teams when it comes to late-summer roster movement. Under GM Omar Khan and Tomlin, Pittsburgh has shown a willingness to shuffle the bottom half of its roster frequently during August, ensuring they find the right fit before Week 1.
The next few weeks will be decisive. With two joint practices and three preseason games on the horizon, those who want to stay on the roster will need to prove their value on both sides of the ball — and on special teams. As always, availability and consistency will be just as important as talent.
Tuesday’s changes are unlikely to be the last. As Pittsburgh gears up for a new season with high expectations and a revamped offensive identity, the roster will continue to evolve. For now, the pads are on, the tempo is rising, and the true test of who belongs has just begun.
