The Pittsburgh Steelers announced a series of roster moves on Monday that saw them release three players, including quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
Besides Trubisky, the Steelers have moved on from offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor and punter Pressley Harvin. The moves give Pittsburgh some salary cap flexibility, saving them close to $13 million.
Trubisky, who was the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, joined the Steelers in 2022. He was named Week 1 starter but ended up being benched after four games in favor of rookie Kenny Pickett. Despite his demotion, the Steelers viewed Trubisky as a valuable backup and ended up signing him to a two-year extension ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Trubisky ended up playing five games, including two starts, after Pickett suffered a shoulder surgery but performed poorly. He completed 62.6 percent of his passes while throwing for 632 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions.
While moving on from Trubisky gives the Steelers some wiggle room under the cap, it also leaves their quarterback room quite empty. With veteran Mason Rudolph set to hit free agency, the Steelers are left with Pickett as their only quarterback on the roster.
Okorafor was Pittsburgh’s third-round pick in 2018. He played 77 games with the franchise since, including 59 starts.
Harvin served as the Steelers’ primary punter since entering the league in 2021. He averaged 43.7 yards per punt in 47 games, with 34.6% of his punts being placed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.
