The Pittsburgh Steelers made a change at wide receiver the day after wideout Cole Burgess left practice with an injury.
The Steelers announced Tuesday they waived Burgess. They then signed Jakobie Keeney-James to take his spot on the roster.
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor and other Steelers insiders reported the move on social media before the Steelers made their official announcement.
“The Steelers have waived/injured WR Cole Burgess, who left practice on a cart yesterday after appearing to sustain a knee injury,” wrote Pryor. “In his place, the team signed WR Jakobie Keeney-James.”
Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora reported Burgess suffered his injury during a 7-on-7 drill in Monday’s practice. Reporters in attendance saw him holding his left knee while he left the field on a cart.
With Keeney-James replacing Burgess, the Steelers still have 12 wide receivers on their training camp roster.
Steelers Waive WR Cole Burgess After Injury
Burgess hauled in a deep ball for a touchdown in Monday’s practice, looking impressive on the play. But it wasn’t long after that he sustained the injury which caused him to need a cart.
Despite the highlight play Tuesday, Burgess faced an uphill battle to a roster spot with the Steelers this month. The best-case scenario for the former undrafted free agent and 26-year-old likely was earning a practice squad role.
Burgess began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals last season. He played college football at SUNY Cortland.
He has yet to make his NFL regular season debut.
Steelers Sign WR Jakobie Keeney-James
In Keeney-James, the Steelers have landed a different former undrafted free agent from the 2025 class.
Last year, the receiver began his professional career with the Detroit Lions. He signed with the Lions after playing college football at Eastern Washington and UMass.
As a senior in 2024, Keeney-James posted 50 catches, 839 receiving yards, averaging 16.8 yards per reception, and six touchdowns.
The 25-year-old didn’t make the Lions roster last preseason. But he caught on with the Green Bay Packers. Keeney-James spent a majority of the 2025 campaign on the Packers practice squad and then made his NFL debut in Week 18.
Against the Minnesota Vikings, he had two catches for 15 yards.
Similar to Burgess, Keeney-James faces a steep climb to a roster spot in Pittsburgh, especially as a late arrival during training camp.
DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., and Germie Bernard are roster locks at receiver for the Steelers this month. Fans should view Ben Skowronek and Roman Wilson as near-locks if not “locks” as well.
Skowronek has provided a lot to the Steelers on special teams over recent years. Meanwhile, Wilson is a former Day 2 pick who could emerge in a new Steelers offense this fall.
That leaves Kaden Wetjen, Levi Wentz, Brandon Smith, A.T. Perry, Max Hurleman and Joaquin Davis to compete with Keeney-James for a roster spot. Wetjen probably has the inside track over those other names because he’s a rookie and is expected to elevate the Steelers return game.
Pittsburgh fans will be able to see the group of receivers in a game setting for the first time this fall on Thursday, August 13.
Steelers Cut Ties With WR Day After Leaving Practice on Cart