A Roster Spot For Steelers Rookie Eli Heidenreich Just Became More Complicated

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2026 NFL Draft class hit Pittsburgh's South Side last weekend for rookie minicamp. The organization made some intriguing selections with local ties, especially when drafting quarterback Drew Allar in the third round at 76th overall from Penn State. Allar played his college ball there, roughly two and a half hours from the Steel City. In the seventh round of the draft, they selected Eli Heidenreich from Navy. While Navy is a bit farther away than Penn State, Heidenreich played high school football at Mt. Lebanon, roughly 30 minutes from the city. However, Heidenreich may have an uphill battle to make the roster.

While it would be a feel-good story should the Mt. Lebanon native make the roster, it is possible that there is no room on it for him. On Tuesday, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had his weekly chat in which he was asked about the chances of him making the roster. The response he provided hints that the former Midshipman running back may not make the team due to a couple of different factors.

"There are a bunch of special teams spots up for grabs with Miles Killebrew, James Pierre and Connor Heyward signing elsewhere in free agency," Fittipaldo wrote. "They were core special teams guys, and veterans and rookies alike will be competing for those jobs. I tend to think someone like [Travis] Homer has an inside edge on a roster spot because he's been there and done that, but Heidenreich and the other rookies will definitely get their shot."

Travis Homer was signed by the organization in late March in what would appear to be a depth move behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, who was also signed this offseason as a free agent. Homer has also played for the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks in his seven-year NFL career. He is listed as a running back, while also being noted as a special teams standout, prompting Fittipaldo's answer on the battle Heidenreich could be in for.

Another player that was not mentioned, but should be worth noting, is Kaden Wetjen. He was selected in the fourth round by the Black and Gold. While he is listed at wide receiver, Wetjen is also known for his standout special teams play. He earned the Jet Award in 2025 at the University of Iowa, which honors the most outstanding return specialist in college football.

Steelers Have Healthy Competition At Several Positions Ahead Of 2026 Season

While it would be a tremendous story for Heidenreich to make the roster ahead of 2026 for his hometown team, there may be several others that stand out ahead of him. However, the NFL is not a business for good stories, but rather one that is results-driven. The Steelers need to get the results on the field and once again find success on the field, especially given their lengthy playoff win drought.

With all things considered, it is good to see healthy competition in the Steel City, especially when it comes to special teams. Warren and Dowdle are going to receive a majority of the workload at running back, which opens up the possibility of Homer stealing a roster spot from Heidenreich. Wetjen's outstanding college career on special teams also does not bode well for the Navy rookie's chances to make the team.

Fittipaldo's comments do not guarantee that Heidenreich will not earn his way onto the roster in Pittsburgh for the 2026 season. He made a name for himself in his college days where military academies are not known as powerhouse football programs. What the comments do reveal is that it is going to be a battle for him to get his chance to try and earn his way onto the roster. Sometimes those situations are not necessarily bad and it could push him to take his game to the next level as he tries to make the jump to the NFL.

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