Hold onto your seats, Steelers fans – a major roster shakeup is unfolding in Pittsburgh, and it could redefine the team's playoff push!
But here's where it gets controversial: Is bringing in a veteran wide receiver at 35 a smart gamble for a team desperate for receivers, or just a nostalgic move that might not pay off? And what about benching a Super Bowl-winning cornerback – is this a strategic shift, or a sign of deeper issues in the secondary? Let's dive into the details and see what this means for the Steelers' future.
I'm Brooke Pryor, an NFL Nation reporter at ESPN who's been covering the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2019. Before that, I reported on the Kansas City Chiefs for the Kansas City Star and the University of Oklahoma for The Oklahoman.
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers have claimed wide receiver Adam Thielen from waivers on Tuesday, according to a source who spoke with ESPN's Adam Schefter. In a corresponding move, they waived veteran cornerback Darius Slay.
Slay and the Steelers have mutually agreed to part ways, as confirmed by his agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey, in a conversation with Schefter earlier today. Additionally, the team is elevating cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. from the practice squad to the active roster, per another source.
Thielen, who is 35 years old, was released by the Minnesota Vikings on Monday to give him the chance to pursue a more prominent role in what he describes as his final NFL season. This waiver process is like a free-for-all where teams can pick up players without compensation – think of it as a recycling bin for talent, where underutilized players get a second shot.
So far this year, Thielen has played in 11 games, hauling in eight catches for 69 yards. To put that in perspective, he had a standout 1,000-yard season just last year in 2023 with the Panthers, racking up 1,014 yards on 103 receptions. Over his 12 NFL seasons, he's accumulated 693 receptions for 8,380 yards and 64 touchdowns, making him a reliable target for any quarterback.
Slay, at 34 years old, was a healthy inactive player for Sunday's matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Instead, the Steelers chose to activate Samuel for that game. At Tuesday's press conference, head coach Mike Tomlin explained that the decision to sideline Slay wasn't about his performance but rather an opportunity to evaluate Samuel, who joined the practice squad on November 11.
Fresh from celebrating a Super Bowl victory with the Philadelphia Eagles, Slay inked a one-year, $10 million deal with the Steelers during free agency. He started in nine games for Pittsburgh this season but sat out the Week 11 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a concussion from the loss to the L.A. Chargers. Upon his return for the Week 12 game versus the Chicago Bears, he came off the bench as undrafted free agent James Pierre took over the starting role opposite Joey Porter Jr.
Slay saw limited action in that Bears game, playing just 20 snaps – which is about 30.8% of the defensive plays – the least of his season besides the injury-abbreviated Chargers game. In his short time with the Steelers, Slay recorded three passes defensed, one fumble recovery, 36 total tackles, and one tackle for loss.
With Slay out against the Bills, the Steelers relied on Samuel when Pierre exited due to a concussion. Samuel, who dealt with 14 months away from NFL action recovering from spinal fusion surgery (a procedure that fuses vertebrae to stabilize the spine, often needed after severe injuries), played 28 defensive snaps – around 37.8% of the plays – and notched three tackles.
Now, with Slay departing and Pierre still sidelined by the concussion protocol, Samuel is poised for more playing time in Sunday's game against the Ravens.
"We liked some of the things that we saw," Tomlin remarked about Samuel. "And we'll make decisions about how we divide the labor up a little later in the week."
And this is the part most people miss: While Thielen's addition could boost the offense with his proven catching ability, some fans might question if a 35-year-old receiver is worth the roster spot in a high-stakes season. On the defense side, ditching a Super Bowl champ like Slay might raise eyebrows – was it really just about testing Samuel, or is there more to the story? What do you think: Is this the right direction for the Steelers, or should they have stuck with their veterans longer? Share your thoughts in the comments – do you agree with these moves, or disagree? Let's start a conversation!
