Pittsburgh Steelers cut eight players after preseason finale

The Steelers trimmed eight players from their roster Saturday, with far more significant moves being made by Tuesday.

At last count, Pittsburgh still has 82 players on the roster. They’ll need to shed 29 more players by Tuesday at 4 p.m. Eastern. Unlike past seasons, this year, the NFL has only one major cut-down date.

Here’s who the Steelers waived — wide receiver Dan Chisena, defensive back Nevelle Clarke, linebacker Kuony Deng and cornerback Madre Harper. Pittsburgh cut defensive lineman James Nyamwaya, kicker B.T. Potter, linebacker Forrest Rhyne and long snapper Rex Sunahara.

The moves showed the Steelers’ intentions on special teams. Christian Kuntz remains the long snapper. And Chris Boswell sticks at kicker.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he tried to be transparent with players

Coach Mike Tomlin recently addressed his thinking behind the cuts in a Saturday statement to the media.

“My perspective on it has changed over the years,” Tomlin said. “It’s very much a necessary part of this process and what we do, and I pride myself in being really transparent and giving these guys enough information to do what capable men are capable of doing.

“It’s the process. I feel comfortable with it provided that I educate, that I provide a platform for guys to improve and show their skills and then that we’re strong enough and clear-eyed enough to just call it as it as it is as opposed to the way we want to see it.

“It’s a necessary component. I’ve grown to appreciate this time of year because of the anticipation associated with what’s on the other side of it.”

Potter set many kicking records at Clemson

The biggest cut probably was Potter, who was signed to challenge Boswell. Potter is a former Clemson star who left the Tigers with most of the school’s major kicking records.

Another player of note who was waived was Chisena, a former Penn State standout who made the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He primarily focused on special teams. The Steelers signed him early this year.

There’s a chance some of these players will stick with the Steelers as members of the team’s practice squad. Or, they can sign elsewhere. Each team can sign 16 players for the squad.

The Steelers open the regular season against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Sept. 10 at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh closed out the preseason with a 24-0 win over Atlanta.