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They call it the āFinal 53ā in recognition of the repeated reductions from the 90 players that reported for the opening of training camp.
But in reality, what the Steelers will come up with by 4 p.m. on Tuesday will be a mere starting point.
Itās likely to change again before the Steelers hit Cincinnati on Sept. 11.
And itāll change repeatedly throughout the course of the regular season.
Still, you have to start somewhere.
Hereās what I see as the starting point in advance of Sundayās preseason finale against the Lions:
OFFENSE
QB (3): Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Somebody Else
Mason Rudolph fought the good fight and played well enough to make himself a tradable commodity. The suspicion is Rudolph would rather be No. 2 elsewhere than No. 3 with the Steelers, and the Steelers will ultimately respect those wishes. Presumably, they still have Chris Oladokunās number.
RB (4): Najee Harris, Anthony McFarland Jr., Jaylen Warren, Derek Watt
Not sure what Wattās role is beyond special teams or if the Steelers envision one for T.J.ās brother on offense, but I donāt suspect heās going anywhere. Benny Snell Jr.ās a tougher cut than you might think, but Warren earned it.
WR (6): Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Chase Claypool, Calvin Austin III, Gunner Olszewski, Miles Boykin
Is there a way to keep Steven Sims? Every possibility and option ought to be explored toward that end. They did too good a job repopulating the position.
TE (3): Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry, Connor Heyward
Freiermuth is poised for a breakout season. Heyward will contribute situationally in a variety of ways after showing up as advertised from Michigan State.
OL (9): Dan Moore Jr., Kevin Dotson, Mason Cole, James Daniels, Chukwuma Okorafor, Kendrick Green, J.C. Hassenauer, John Leglue, Joe Haeg
Somebody Else is an option here, as well. But in a league starving for offensive linemen, the pickinsā off of the scrap heap of other teamsā cuts will likely be pretty slim.
DEFENSE
DL (7): Cam Heyward. Tyson Alualu, Larry Ogunjobi, Chris Wormley, Montravius Adams, DeMarvin Leal, Isaiahh Loudermilk
Adams hasnāt practiced in a while but he looked great early in training camp. And the Steelers canāt afford to get caught short again upfront. They saw what happens when that happens last year. Itās not an option.
LB (9): T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Myles Jack, Devin Bush, Robert Spillane, Mark Robinson, Derrek Tuszka, Hamilcar Rashed Jr., Somebody Else
The Steelers are apparently betting there will be a better option than Genard Avery available as the been-there, done-that, rotational OLB theyāll have to have in support of Watt and Highsmith. Itās either that or they think Rashed will blossom into a player worthy of being named for a Carthaginian general.
DB (9): Cam Sutton, Ahkello Witherspoon, Levi Wallace, Arthur Maulet, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, Damontae Kazee, Tre Norwood, Elijah Riley
Theyāll have a deep and versatile secondary at their disposal. Itāll be up to the coaches to take full advantage schematically.
SPECIALISTS (3)
LS (1): Christian Kuntz
P (1): Pressley Harvin III
K (1): Chris Boswell
Harvin has apparently made great progress. Itāll help immensely if he can flip fields the way his leg strength suggests he can.
BOTTOM LINE: Itās a better team than the one that closed last season by being blown out in Kansas City. But the Steelers didnāt get better in a vacuum. And what they have available, as always, will be subject to change.