Pittsburgh Steelers minicamp and OTAs wrapped up with the usual optimism, but behind the scenes, the coaching staff is already squinting hard at a 90-man roster that needs to shrink to 53. The headline-grabbers are the Aaron Rodgers-Mike McCarthy reunion and the arrival of WR Michael Pittman Jr., but two veterans are walking a much thinner line — and their roster spots aren’t safe.
Just a year removed from a 10-7 finish that fizzled in the Wild Card round, Pittsburgh is in a weird spot. They’ve got a Hall of Fame quarterback, a new-ish head coach in Super Bowl winner McCarthy, and a roster built to win now. But underneath that shiny surface, two players — punter Cameron Johnston and defensive lineman Logan Lee — are facing serious heat as camp battles heat up.
Let’s start with Johnston. The 34-year-old signed a one-year deal in March, returning to the team that cut him loose after one game in 2024 due to a season-ending knee injury. Since then, Johnston has appeared in only nine games across two teams (Buffalo, NY Giants) and has been plagued by nagging ankle issues. According to reports, his leg hasn’t looked the same since the knee surgery, and the Steelers quietly claimed rookie punter Aidan Laros off waivers from Tampa Bay earlier this offseason. Laros is a 23-year-old from Cape Town, South Africa, who grew up playing rugby — which means a completely different punting style and a fresh leg that doesn’t come with an injury history. The team has not confirmed whether Johnston is officially on the bubble, but adding a competition at a specialist position rarely signals total confidence.
The Depth Chart Squeeze on Defense
On the other side of the ball, Logan Lee is the second name to watch. Pittsburgh’s 3-4 front is anchored by future Hall of Famer Cameron Heyward and features 2025 first-round pick Derrick Harmon, who impressed with three sacks as a rookie. Fourth-year nose tackle Keeanu Benton is coming off his best season, and behind them, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Yahya Black, and Esezi Otomewo all saw expanded roles in 2025. That leaves Lee, a promising sixth-rounder in 2024 who missed his entire rookie year with a calf injury, stuck at the bottom of a very deep depth chart. He managed just two tackles last season.
Lee has undeniable versatility and athleticism — he can slide between end and tackle — but the Steelers are in a win-now window, and they might not have the patience to wait for him to fully recover and develop. Fans online have noted that Lee’s injury history is a red flag, especially with younger, healthier players pushing for reps.
Both Johnston and Lee carry intriguing skill sets, but the roster math is cruel. With a $20 million-plus quarterback on the books and a defense designed to pressure the pocket, Pittsburgh may decide to roll with a cheaper, healthier option at punter and a more reliable rotational piece on the line. The next few preseason games will tell the story.
For now, both names are worth watching as training camp kicks off. The Steelers have a Super Bowl ceiling, but only if they get the right 53 players on the field.
Leave a Comment