The Pittsburgh Steelers made multiple high-profile roster moves ahead of the crucial Week 14 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens — waiving cornerback Darius Slay, promoting cornerback Asante Samuel to the 53, and claiming wide receiver Adam Thielen — but they also announced news of a WR’s release and a defensive back’s return.
“We have signed DB Daequan Hardy to the practice squad and released WR Cornell Powell from the practice squad,” the Steelers’ social media team informed on December 2.
Hardy was with the Pittsburgh practice squad for most of November, but he’s spent the majority of his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills after being drafted by the AFC East franchise in 2024.
A sixth-round talent, Hardy has never been more than a practice squad body up to this point. He’s undersized, at 5-foot-9, and he turned 24 years old in June.
As for the wide receiver release. With Thielen joining the Steelers’ organizational ranks, there’s no longer a need for Powell, who had been serving as veteran depth.
Powell is a former fifth-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs who spent the better part of four years inside KC’s system. He only appeared in 3 regular season games over that span, and was mostly utilized exclusively on special teams.
Since parting ways with the Chiefs, Powell has bounced around different practice squads and camps. He was with the Seattle Seahawks to close out the 2024 campaign before spending his 2025 training camp with the Houston Texans.
Powell only signed with the Steelers in late November, leading to his abrupt release on December 2.
Steelers Bring in Adam Thielen in Week 14 to Try & Help Aaron Rodgers, Offense
The Thielen news finally lands the Steelers another competent wide receiver.
Although older and nonexistent in Minnesota this season, Thielen is one year removed from contributing 61.5 yards per game. In 2023, he also posted a per-game average of 59.6 yards, breaking the 1,000-yard mark for the third time in his career.
That was at age 33, and Thielen is now 35, so obviously some regression should be expected.
Even so, the veteran playmaker brings something to the table that quarterback Aaron Rodgers will appreciate: professionalism both in practice and on the field.
Rodgers wants pass-catchers who will be on the same page as him in pivotal moments, and he also wants technically sound route-runners and receivers that he can rely on. He stressed as much after the Week 13 loss, and now, in comes Thielen — who has built up a reputation for being a quarterback’s best friend.
Thielen’s presence should improve the Steelers’ offense on third downs, in the red zone, and in general, as he takes some of the attention away from star WR DK Metcalf.
Steelers Cut News Ends Darius Slay Experiment Ahead of Ravens Clash
The other notable move mentioned above was the decision to move on from Slay.
Simply put, rapidly approaching his 35th birthday, the six-time Pro Bowler looked like he lost a step at various points of the 2025 season. And the recent Samuel signing allows head coach Mike Tomlin to move on, replacing Slay from within.
Samuel was already making a case for an active roster promotion, so the Steelers had to make a move before another team offered the former second-round talent a more appealing job. They chose to do so ahead of a key clash with the Ravens in Week 14, and Slay is the natural casualty due to his regression and lack of special teams impact.
At least the typically complacent Steelers are finally showing some aggressiveness.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Steelers Abruptly Release WR Amid Major Week 14 Roster Shakeup appeared first on Heavy Sports.