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Steelers Finalize 53-Man Roster for the 2021 Season

(Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media, FILE)

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — The difficult decision to shave the remaining players from an NFL team has come to reality. For the Steelers, the final cuts were made Tuesday at 4pm and the team has been assembled for the battles leading up to Super Bowl LVI.

Among notable cuts, running back Jaylen Samuels who has been with the team since 2018 and punter Jordan Berry, added to Steelers in 2015. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs was placed on the injured reserve list to make way for offseason pickup Dwayne Haskins who was picked up off of waivers in January of this year.

The following list of the final roster is credited to to the Pittsburgh Steelers in alphabetical order:

Offense (24)

Quarterbacks (3): Dwayne Haskins, Mason Rudolph, Ben Roethlisberger

Running Backs/Fullbacks (5): Kalen Ballage, Najee Harris, Anthony McFarland Jr., Benny Snell Jr., Derek Watt

Offensive Line (8): Zach Banner, Kevin Dotson, Kendrick Green, Joe Haeg, J.C. Hassenauer, Dan Moore Jr., Chukwuma Okorafor, Trai Turner

Tight Ends (3): Eric Ebron, Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry

Wide Receivers (5): Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, Ray-Ray McCloud, JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington

Defense (26)

Defensive Line (8): Tyson Alualu, Isaiah Buggs, Carlos Davis, Cameron Heyward, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Henry Mondeaux, Stephon Tuitt, Chris Wormley

Linebackers (10): Marcus Allen, Devin Bush, Ulysees Gilbert III, Alex Highsmith, Melvin Ingram III, Buddy Johnson, Jamir Jones, Joe Schobert, Robert Spillane, T.J. Watt

Defensive Backs (8): Terrell Edmunds, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Joe Haden, Miles Killebrew, Justin Layne, Tre Norwood, James Pierre, Cam Sutton

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Haskins Impresses in First Game as a Steeler

Steelers’ Quarterback Dwayne Haskins throws during the Hall of Fame Game in Canton Ohio. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

CANTON, OH (GSM) — Quarterback Dwayne Haskins is a 2021 off season pick-up by the Pittsburgh Steelers after the Washington Football Team released him in January. Steelers brass seem to be happy to have him on their team.

In his debut as a member of the Black-n-Gold, Haskins completed 8 of his 13 passes for 54 yards in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys. He also ran for four yards to the delight of his coaches.

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin addresses the media following the Hall of Fame Game on August 5, 2021 in Canton, OH. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

Head Coach Mike Tomlin said of Haskins, “I liked his demeanor! I thought he was a really good communicator. I thought he was present and kind of cerebral, the way that you like the quarterback position to be.”

On paper, Mason Rudolph is listed as the backup to starting QB Ben Roethlisberger. However, Dwayne Haskins continues to show that he is highly capable of becoming the #2 as he shows significant leadership skills.

BRIAN COOK IS AN EMMY-NOMINATED INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SINCE 2005. HE CAN BE REACHED AT BCOOK@GOLDENSKYMEDIA.COM.

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Bishop Loran E. Mann Special Honors Video

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — Bishop Loran E. Mann, founder of Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ in Pittsburgh, passed away at the age of 74. A former award-winning journalist, Mann became a member of the Church of God in Christ’s General Board in 2021.

Mann posthumously received the Legacy Award the New Pittsburgh Courier during the 2021 50 Men of Excellence ceremony.

Archive Materials and Special Thanks:

New Pittsburgh Courier
WPXI-TV
WGBN-AM 1360
KDKA-AM 1020
Pentecostal Temple
National Association of Black Journalists
Cornerstone Network
The Potter’s House Dallas, TX

Contact:
BCook@goldenskymedia.com

Media outlet: www.newpittsburghcourier.com

BRIAN COOK IS AN EMMY-NOMINATED INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SINCE 2005. HE CAN BE REACHED AT BCOOK@GOLDENSKYMEDIA.COM.

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER  
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Steelers Select Najee Harris in 1st Round of ’21 Draft

1/1/21 MFB Alabama vs Notre DameAlabama running back Najee Harris (22)Photo by Photo by Kent Gidley

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — “Najee Harris is the second coming of Franco Harris,” says football guru and NFL scout Smokin’ Jim Frazier. Only time will tell, but he very well could be!

Harris leaves the Alabama Crimson Tide as the top running back on the 2021 draft board to a Steelers team that cut ties with James Conner, the team’s former starter at the position. Harris racked up 4624 total yards from scrimmage with an impressive 3843 yards by way of rushing.

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and General Manager Kevin Colbert took questions from the media Thursday, moments after the 1st-round selection. “He’s got a nice combination of size, strength and athleticism. His picking vision is excellent in terms of finding holes,” Tomlin said. “He shows patience while doing that. He’s a complete back.”

 

BRIAN COOK IS AN EMMY-NOMINATED INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SINCE 2005. HE CAN BE REACHED AT BCOOK@GOLDENSKYMEDIA.COM.

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER  
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James Conner Signed by the Cardinals

Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner stretches over the goal line to score a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns on October 28, 2018 at Heinz Field.
(Photo: Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media, FILE)

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — Erie, PA native and former Steelers running back James Conner has a new home over 2,000 miles away.

The Arizona Cardinals signed Conner in a 1-year deal just months after the Steelers decided not to renew his contract. In 4 years with Pittsburgh he racked up 2,302 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns on the ground. He also accomplished 963 receiving and 4 receiving touchdowns throughout his tenure.

Conner joins Chase Edmunds and Jonathan Ward in the backfield and is the second big-name free agent signed this off season by the Cardinals. Arizona signed former Texans defensive end J.J. Watt signed a 2-year, $31 million contract on March 3.

Welcome to the Valley, @JamesConner_!

We have agreed to terms with RB James Conner on a one-year contract.

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 13, 2021

BRIAN COOK IS AN EMMY-NOMINATED INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SINCE 2005. HE CAN BE REACHED AT BCOOK@GOLDENSKYMEDIA.COM.

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