The Steelers reduced their roster to the mandatory 85 players on Tuesday, waiving five players following the conclusion of the team’s practice at Heinz Field.
Those released defensive end Abdullah Anderson, defensive back Stephen Denmark, wide receiver Isaiah McKoy, kicker Sam Sloman, and offensive lineman Brandon Walton.
Anderson originally signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent the 2018 and part of the 2019 season on the Bears’ practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster in 2019 and played in six games, registering four tackles, one sack and a tackle for loss. Anderson, who played at Bucknell, spent the majority of the 2020 season on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad, activated for one game.
Denmark was signed by the Steelers in the 2021 offseason. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the 238th overall pick. He was on the Bears’ practice squad for the 2019 season and through Week 5 of the 2020 season. Denmark played college football at Valdosta State.
McKoy was signed as a rookie free agent from Kent State following the 2021 NFL Draft. He had 25 receptions for 455 yards, an 18.2 yard average, and five touchdowns in 2020 in a shortened season that was only four games due to the pandemic. In 2019 he had 56 receptions for 872 yards and eight touchdowns and was named third-team All-MAC. He topped 100 yards three times and a career-high 158 yards and three touchdowns against Ball State.
Sloman spent his rookie season with both the Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans. Sloman was originally drafted by the Rams in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft and won the starting job in training camp, beating out two other kickers. Sloman played in seven games for the Rams and converted on 8-of-11 (72.7%) field goal attempts and made 18-of-21 (85.7%) extra point attempts. The Rams released him following Week 7. Sloman kicked in eight games and connected on 10-of-13 field goal attempts (76.9%) and 23 of 26 extra points (88.5%).
Walton was signed to the Steelers practice squad in 2020 and then to a reserve/future contract in the 2021 offseason. He originally signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Florida Atlantic following the 2020 NFL Draft. He was added to their practice squad but released not long after.
The next roster cut is to 80 players by Tuesday, August 24.
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