The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the process of experimenting with the players they have currently on the roster and figuring out their roles for the 2026 season. They may add a few more pieces before training camp, but as of now, the current 90-man group is the one that Pittsburgh expects to have in Latrobe when training camp begins in late July. The exciting part of the offseason is done with for the most part, and now, it's just back to work, starting with Organized Team Activities (OTAs) while the front office works on extensions.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan during a training camp practice in Latrobe, PA.
However, there seems to be one player waiting for a call from the Steelers to come in and sign a contract. In the latest edition of Asked and Answered, Bob Labriola explained an unusual situation happening in Pittsburgh that started back in March.
"When it comes to actually signing the papers, the answer is no. Darnell Savage is not on the Steelers' 90-man roster, nor is he on any other team's 90-man roster," Labriola explained. "It was reported back in March that the Steelers had come to an agreement on a contract with Savage, but that there were some unresolved medical issues. Later, Savage's agent said that his client still planned to live up to the agreement and would join the Steelers. But since then, there has been nothing to report. That's all I can tell you."
Early on in the new league year, it was announced that the Steelers had come to terms with safety Darnell Savage. He was not considered a lock to make it to the 53-man roster due to injuries and inconsistency recently, but he could have been quality safety depth at the very least. However, he has never officially put pen to paper, and it's possible he never will.
Corey Perrine/ Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK / Imagn Images
Then-Jacksonville Jaguars safety Darnell Savage (6) catches a pass during an NFL training camp session at the Miller Electric Center, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla.
There is still the expectation that Savage will be a Steeler eventually, as sites like ESPN.com still have him listed on the unofficial depth chart. However, with each passing day, it seems less and less likely that the previous agreement will be honored, leading to him possibly having to miss the 2026 season entirely. If that's the case, it's such an unfortunate way to go out for a good player like him.
The Steelers would still like to get this deal done, especially with how General Manager Omar Khan put a strong emphasis on having defensive back depth. If someone else gets hurt, Savage could end up getting signed during the season to fill a role for the short-term. Either way, it would not be surprising to see Pittsburgh find a way to get him on the roster and have him contribute in some way.
Steelers May Be Set At The Safety Position
On the other hand, it may be difficult to justify getting Savage on the 53-man roster with the current group of guys expected to make it. They have three starting-caliber safeties on the team after also signing Jaquan Brisker early in the 2026 offseason. They also used a sixth-round pick on Robert Spears-Jennings to develop behind all the veterans and eventually become a key contributor.
Steelers.com
Steelers' Jaquan Brisker speaking with several members of the Pittsburgh media as he gets introduced to the team.
The Steelers might accept Savage as a practice squad guy, but the odds of him making it to the 53-man roster are slim to none at this point. He and his agent are still waiting for Khan to call them up, but all the uncertainty around him makes that difficult for Pittsburgh to do. With nothing to report, no news appears to be bad news for the former first-round pick.
What do you think about Savage not being a Steeler after the two sides previously agreed to terms? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
#SteelerNation