The Pittsburgh Steelers made several roster changes following Friday night’s loss to the Houston Texans. According to NFL.com and the transaction report, the team placed NT Breiden Fehoko on the injured list. The team also released LB Easton Gibbs and signed DL Marquiss Spencer and LB Luquay Washington.

Fehoko sustained a left arm/shoulder injury during the week of practice leading up to the Steelers’ opener against the Texans. Although Mike Tomlin didn’t comment on it, we spotted Fehoko in the middle of Wednesday’s practice with a large bandage on his arm and shoulder.

With Fehoko on the injured list, the Steelers are thin at the nose tackle position for the rest of the summer. Starting NT Keeanu Benton suffered an eye injury against the Texans but appears to have escaped serious injury. Montravius ​​Adams has had a strong training camp, but without Fehoko, rookie DL Logan Lee has stepped in as the third nose tackle, despite looking more like a defensive end.

Despite a change in the league’s rules regarding injured reserve/returnees, since Breiden Fehoko was placed on the injured list before the final cut date, he will not be eligible to return later this season. The only way for him to return is to be released with an injury settlement and wait several weeks before he can re-sign. But that assumes his injury is minor.

Gibbs was signed earlier this week to replace ILB Tyler Murray, who was released/injured with a groin injury, and only appeared in four defensive plays in yesterday’s loss.

Spencer and Washington were recent practice partners with the Steelers. Spencer worked out before training camp but was not immediately signed. He will add depth at the nose tackle position. He is 6035 pounds, 301 pounds and has 33 1/8-inch arms that he gets from Mississippi State. He has spent time with several teams, most recently the New York Jets.

Washington will replace Gibbs. He worked out for the team yesterday, one of four linebackers the team tried out. He went undrafted out of Central Connecticut State, weighed 6,006 pounds at his Pro Day and ran the 40 yards in 4.59 seconds. He was released by the Kansas City Chiefs in late July. We will update both players’ jersey numbers during the team’s Sunday practice.

With Fehoko on the injured list, Gibbs released, two new signings and Markus Golden retiring, the Steelers have one roster spot open. They may practice with the offensive tackles tomorrow morning after Troy Fautanu sprained his medial pectoral ligament. Although the injury is considered minor, he will likely still be out for some time, leaving the Steelers with few tackles for the rest of training camp and the preseason.

Pittsburgh will hold three more training camps: Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. On Thursday, they will have a joint practice with the Buffalo Bills before playing them on Saturday, August 17 at Acrisure Stadium.