PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 roster is officially set. After making a series of cuts and releasing players in hopes of adding them to the practice squad, the team is now short the required 53 players ahead of its Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons.
The unfortunate thing about trimming the roster, aside from players losing their jobs, is that players are being placed on the injured list. Some are slated to return, others are placed on it for the entire upcoming season. Two hopefuls for the outside linebacker rotation are the latest Steelers to be placed on the injured list.
As part of announcing the team’s initial 53-man roster, the Steelers also provided several updates on injured players. Jeremiah Moon and rookie Julius Welschoff were both placed on the injured list. The good news for Moon is that he will be able to play again, but Welschoff will miss the entire 2024 season. He is on the injured list along with fellow rookie Ryan Watts as the Steelers lose two promising rookies.
Welschoff came to the Steelers through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. The program, which helps international athletes gain NFL experience and gives the league access to players, brought the former Michigan Wolverine to training camp. He was an impressive pass rusher and showed strength and agility in the preseason. If healthy, he could be a contender for a spot on the roster in 2025.
Moon could still have an impact on the Steelers’ roster in 2024. Since he’s slated to return, he’ll miss at least four games, but that gives him plenty of time to join the pass rushing group. The 25-year-old spent last season with the Baltimore Ravens, playing in eight games and recording 12 tackles and two forced fumbles. At 6’5″ and weighing nearly 250 pounds, he has a completely different build than the Steelers’ linebackers, which could be a big reason why they want to keep him if he’s healthy.
Without Moon and Welschoff, the Steelers will go with a trio of TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig playing the vast majority of snaps. DeMarvin Leal could also be used as an edge rusher as the team works him into its positional diversity. The group is still full, but Moon’s midseason signing will be welcome.
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