The Pittsburgh Steelers wasted no time handing out George Pickens’ previous jersey quantity. The No. 14 he donned for 3 seasons with the group has already been given to another person. Newly signed wideout Montana Lemonious-Craig is now sporting these digits, the group’s most up-to-date addition as Pittsburgh begins its OTA practices Tuesday that run by means of subsequent week.
After all, Pickens shouldn’t be Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, or Hines Ward. There was no expectation of Pickens’ quantity being thought of sacred handy out to a future participant and with a full offseason roster, there are restricted choices. Nevertheless it’s maybe a quiet admission of the Steelers rapidly transferring on from Pickens, a participant who triggered loads of frustration behind closed doorways.
It’s an analogous method the group has taken to previous gamers. Pittsburgh traded Antonio Brown in March 2019 and assigned his No. 84 that Might to unheralded tight finish Milan Richard.
Richard by no means performed a regular-season down. Nor did WR Rico Bussey, who donned the digits in the course of the group’s 2021 coaching camp. He briefly flashed earlier than fading all through the summer time. Final yr, Pittsburgh signed RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson, who made the roster and wore the jersey all through his first season with the group. Brown wasn’t pleased upon listening to the information.
Like Richard and Bussey, Lemonious-Craig may have an uphill battle to make the observe squad, a lot lower than 53-man roster. The Pickens commerce opened up a roster spot, however the group largely is aware of the WRs who will make the Week 1 roster: DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, and Roman Wilson are locks. Robert Woods and Ben Skowronek are prone to be a part of them.
For a sixth spot or high place on the observe squad, veteran Scotty Miller and UDFAs Roc Taylor and Ke’Shawn Williams have the higher hand. Don’t sleep on former Los Angeles Rams receiver Lance McCutcheon, both.
Lemonious-Craig’s signing brings the Steelers’ roster to a full 91 gamers, one over the same old most of 90 as a consequence of EDGE Julius Welschof’s worldwide exemption that doesn’t see him rely towards the roster.
George Pickens received’t put on No. 14 in Pittsburgh. Presently, he’s not even sporting it in Dallas. Within the spring, he’s sporting a No. 13 jersey. That’s topic to vary by the beginning of the season however No. 14 is presently occupied by S Markquese Bell.
