NFL cut down day has become something highly anticipated by fans across the league. Seeing if their “diamond in the rough” makes the roster or if their team parted ways with a particular player many feel should have been cut loose years ago, dissecting the initial 53-man roster feels like a true start to the regular season. But for those players who were left go on Tuesday, Wednesday brings a new day and perhaps a new opportunity to continue their NFL dream.

Welcome to the NFL practice squad.

After players with 4 or less accrued seasons clear waivers, each team can sign players to their official practice squad. For five seasons now, the practice squad was expanded to 16 players and 6 of those players can be of unlimited accrued seasons (including the players who were not subject to waivers). The players on the practice squad can be promoted by the Steelers or signed by other NFL teams, but once again for 2024 teams can protect up to 4 players on the practice squad each week starting on Tuesday. Additionally, each team can promote up to 2 players from the practice squad to the active roster without having to remove another player.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they waited more than a day to announce 8 players of their 2024 16-man practice squad Thursday, and the list of players is below:

DB Zyon Gilbert
DB Thomas Graham
CB Anthony Averett
OLB Marcus Haynes
DT Jacob Slade
FB Jack Colletto
RB Jonathan Ward
TE Rodney Williams

Remember that the last few seasons the Steelers only filled about half of their practice squad on the first day and did not get to 16 players for several days.

Although there have been other names reported to be signing with the Steelers practice squad, they have not been officially announced at this time. For an update on the unofficial additions, check out our Steelers 2024 Practice Squad Tracker.

The practice squad can change, just like the team’s 53-man roster can certainly change between now and the Week 1 game vs. the Atlanta Falcons. For this reason, stay tuned to Steel Curtain Network for any updates on any roster moves and all Steelers news as they prepare for the kickoff of the 2024 season.