The Pittsburgh Steelers moved quickly to address their roster needs following linebacker Tyler Matakevich being placed on injured reserve. According to the NFL transaction sheet, the team has signed wide receiver and special teams standout Ben Skowronek to the 53-man roster.
Although the team hasn’t yet made an official announcement, the move was first spotted by Alan Saunders of Steelers Now.
Skowronek had been elevated from the Steelers’ practice squad for the last two games, and with only one more promotion allowed under league rules, Pittsburgh opted to add him permanently to the active roster. Despite dealing with a shoulder injury going into Week 3, the decision to sign him suggests the injury isn’t expected to be a long-term issue.
In a corresponding move, the Steelers brought back wide receiver Jaray Jenkins to fill Skowronek’s spot on the practice squad. Jenkins, who impressed during the preseason, is a 6’2”, 204-pound receiver with a 4.6-second 40-yard dash time. His signing was first reported by Brooke Pryor.
These transactions capped off a busy day for the Steelers. Along with Matakevich’s move to IR, the team shuffled its practice squad by signing defensive backs James Pierre and D’Shawn Jamison, while releasing wide receiver Shaquan Davis and cornerback Zyon Gilbert.
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NFL insider Aaron Wilson also reported that Pittsburgh worked out three defensive backs on Tuesday, eventually deciding to sign Jamison to the practice squad. One of the most notable names from the workouts was C.J. Henderson, a former first-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Henderson, who was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021, has appeared in 49 NFL games with 32 starts, totaling 172 tackles, three interceptions, and 16 passes defensed. After signing with the Houston Texans in 2024, Henderson was released during roster cutdowns.
Another player to watch from the workouts is Quindell Johnson, a 6’2”, 208-pound safety who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams in 2023. Johnson played nine games for the Chicago Bears last season, contributing three tackles, one interception, and one pass defensed. He was released by Chicago after making their initial practice squad in 2024.
As the Steelers prepare for their Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, they head into the game with a fully stocked roster and practice squad, along with several free agents to keep an eye on after an eventful day of roster activity.
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