Activating cornerback Jalen Ramsey off the PUP list wasn’t the only roster move the Pittsburgh Steelers made Monday morning.
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported the Steelers also signed running back Alex Tecza and cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau.
To make roster room, the Steelers also waived defensive back Israel Mukuamu. On Sunday, the team released kicker Laith Marjan as well.
In a corresponding move, the team released DB Israel Mukuamu. Team also released backup K Laith Marjam over the weekend.
Tecza was teammates with Steelers seventh-round rookie Eli Heidenreich at the Naval Academy. Both backs appeared in games for Navy from 2023-25.
Last season, both players recorded more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the team. Tecza was second for Navy with 902 rushing yards while averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He also scored 10 touchdowns.
Over his entire career at Navy, Tecza posted 5.5 yards per rush and 11 yards per carry. He had 41 catches for 451 yards with three receiving scores in 38 games.
Although he was a playmaker, Tecza is listed as a fullback and has the physical traits to prove it.
“Physical, downhill runner who dished out punishment and consistently fell forward,” wrote Steelers Depot’s Josh Carney in the back’s scouting report in April.
Guilbeau was one of three defensive backs to tryout for the Steelers on Sunday. Guilbeau is an undrafted free agent who played college football at Texas.
He spent part of the offseason with the Carolina Panthers.
Both players are joining the Steelers with roughly six days to prove themselves. All NFL teams must trim their rosters to 53 players by 6 pm ET on Sunday, August 30.
Steelers Sign Former Navy RB Alex Tecza: Report
The Steelers already have a pretty crowded running back room. But with Tecza, they appear to be adding depth at fullback.
He won’t only play fullback, but the Steelers have rookie Riley Nowakowski listed at fullback on their roster. Nowakowski will likely fill the void left behind from Connor Heyward’s departure this offseason.
Heyward played tight end and fullback on offense while also contributing on special teams.
The Steelers selected Nowakowski in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. It’s highly unlikely Tecza has a chance to pass the fifth-rounder on the depth chart before Sunday or make the team instead of another one of Pittsburgh’s running backs.
But perhaps the Steelers want to get a look at Tecza this week for the practice squad. In that role, Tecza could potentially replace Nowakowski on the roster if the rookie suffers an injury.
At running back, the Steelers have Rico Dowdle, Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, Travis Homer, Lew Nichols and Heidenreich. On the official roster, the team has Heidenreich listed as a RB/WR.
Interestingly, the Steelers have Tecza listed as a “RB” and not a fullback.
Pittsburgh Also Added Undrafted CB Jaylon Guilbeau
Not that the addition of Tecza was surprising. But the Steelers signing Guilbeau was much more expected.
With an open roster spot and tryouts held Sunday, the expectation Monday morning was the Steelers would add one of the cornerbacks the team worked out over the weekend. That turned out to be Guilbeau.
The undrafted cornerback spent four seasons at Texas during his college career. He posted 124 combined tackles, including eight for loss in 43 career games.
In 2025, Guilbeau posted 40 combined tackles, including 1 for loss, three pass defenses and one interception.
Cornerback, though, is also a crowded position on the Steelers roster. The team has Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., Daylen Everette, Brandin Echols, D’Shawn Jamison, Tamon Lynum, Doneiko Slaughter, Daryl Porter, and Donte Kent listed as cornerbacks on their depth chart.
Steelers Add Physical, Dual-Threat Running Back With Roster Cuts Looming: Report