The Pittsburgh Steelers moved on from another veteran on defense Sunday morning — Dean Lowry.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on X the Steelers have released Lowry as part of their roster cuts. The Steelers, along with every NFL team, have to trim their roster to 53 players by 6 pm ET on Sunday.
“Steelers are releasing veteran DL Dean Lowry, per source,” wrote Fowler.
Lowry has appeared in 132 games over a decade in the NFL. He has started 85 of those contests.
In 2024, he played in 12 games for the Steelers, starting one contest. He registered five combined tackles, one sack and one pass defense.
Lowry was also with the Steelers in 2025 training camp but suffered a season-ending injury in early August. He spent the 2025 campaign on the team’s injured reserve.
Pittsburgh re-signed Lowry in April and then again in May after waiving him during offseason workouts.
Lowry has also played for the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings in his NFL career. The 32-year-old has registered 271 combined tackles, including 23 tackles for loss. He also has 18 pass defenses, 16.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
The Steelers released Lowry a little more than an hour after also moving on from linebacker Elandon Roberts. Like Lowry, Roberts played for the Steelers in 2024. The team brought back the linebacker in early August.
Steelers Release Defensive Lineman Dean Lowry: Report
Lowry is a bit of a surprising cut. Multiple Steelers insiders inferred based on the fact Lowry didn’t play in the preseason finale Thursday that he would make the initial 53-man roster.
“The top five [defensive linemen] are set,” wrote insider Mark Kaboly. “The question is whether McCarthy wants to go with a veteran like Lowry or hold onto more youthful guys like Gabe Rubio or Esezi Otomewo.
With the Steelers’ main objective against the Bills being to get out of there healthy, that points to the guy who didn’t play – Lowry.
Instead, the Steelers will likely keep some of their youth along the defensive line. With the Lowry release, the best bet is sixth-round rookie Gabe Rubio will make the roster.
Lowry, though, could be a candidate to return to Pittsburgh as a practice squad player to begin the regular season.
“Bubble guy who could find his way to the PS given his familiarity in the system,” wrote Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora on Sunday morning.
The Packers selected Lowry at No. 137 overall in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent seven years with the Packers and one in Minnesota before landing in Pittsburgh.
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Lowry found himself off the Steelers 53-man roster in part because of the strong depth the team has at the position group.
All-Pro Cameron Heyward, along with recent draft picks Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black are all locks to be on the roster. So is free agent signee Sebastian Joseph-Day.
Without Lowry, the Steelers will probably keep Rubio or Esezi Otomewo as a sixth defensive lineman. Lowry could be on the team’s practice squad and hold the opportunity to be a game day elevation early in the regular season.
This fall, the Steelers defensive line will be trying to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 campaign. The team finished 26th in total defense and 29th in pass defense. Pittsburgh was also 13th in rushing yards allowed, but the defense had embarrassing performances in that department as well late in the season.
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