The Pittsburgh Steelers made some hard decisions over the last few days as the team trimmed the roster down to 53 guys on Sunday. General Manager Omar Khan was able to get some trades done to bring in some additional draft capital, but he still had to make some tough decisions. One of those moves was releasing veteran inside linebacker Elandon Roberts which caught fans by surprise as it seemed like he would make the roster. Another surprise was the fact that running back Eli Heidenreich made the final roster, as it didn't seem like he had enough of an opportunity to truly make a mark in the preseason.
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Steelers RB Eli Heidenreich celebrates with Drew Allar after scoring a touchdown in the preseason finale in 2026.
Heidenreich was an immediate fan-favorite after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He is from the area, and he also comes from Navy, which is rare as skill players aren't typically drafted out of the service academies. He has some fun versatility to his game as he is officially listed on the roster as both a wide receiver and a running back, and he can also be used as a returner. He was unimpressive during the preseason games until the finale against the Buffalo Bills. He made a tackle on the opening kickoff and he also scored a touchdown, and he seemed to look more explosive than he had earlier in the preseason.
Many fans thought the running back would be waived and then brought back on the practice squad, which is why it was a bit of a surprise to see that he made the initial roster. Khan spoke about this during his press conference on Monday.
"He earned it," Khan said. "We saw some things in the games that you guys all watched, but for those of you who were in Latrobe, you guys saw it on the practice field. There's some versatility there, there's some play-making ability there, and he earned it. I'm glad he's a part of this team."
There weren't really any glowing reports out of training camp when it came to Heidenreich, but clearly the coaching staff and the front office felt like he had done enough to earn a spot on the final roster. The organization moving on from Kaleb Johnson also helped as Khan was able to find a trade partner in the Green Bay Packers.
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Eli Heidenreich during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
It's hard to guess just how much usage Heidenreich could get on the offensive side of the ball. Most of the touches out of the backfield are accounted for between Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, as well as Riley Nowakowski making the team as a fullback. Heidenreich will be a reserve in case of injury, but he should be able to earn a helmet on game days due to his ability to play so many positions. He can make an impact on special teams as a returner and playing coverage, and his pass-catching ability should be somewhat intriguing.
Steelers' Eli Heidenreich Could Be On A Short Leash
While it is nice to celebrate Heidenreich making the final roster, it is going to be something that he is going to have to continue to earn. There cannot be any mental lapses on special teams, and he is going to have to find a way to make plays. Travis Homer is sticking around on the practice squad and he was initially signed for his ability to play special teams as a running back. He is a veteran with a ton of experience, and if Heidenreich begins to struggle, there is a world where Homer steps in and takes his spot.
Heidenreich had some interesting player comparisons coming out of Navy, and now it is time to show everyone what he can really do. That starts with making a positive impact in the third phase of the game.
What was your initial reaction to Heidenreich making the team? Were you surprised? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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