The Pittsburgh Steelers have an open spot on their 90-man roster. It appears the team wants to fill it with a defensive back.
According to the NFL transaction wire, the Steelers held tryouts for three defensive backs Sunday. The most notable, of which, was former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Eli Ricks.
The 24-year-old played in 23 games for the Eagles from 2023-24. He dressed for seven contests during the team’s 2024 Super Bowl campaign.
Ricks registered 21 combined tackles, including one for loss in Philadelphia.
During the 2025 season, Ricks spent part of September and October on the Eagles practice squad.
Defensive backs Dee Williams and Jaylon Guilbeau also tried out for the Pittsburgh roster Sunday.
Williams played 12 games for the Seattle Seahawks during the 2024 season. Last year, he was with the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns.
Guilbeau was an undrafted free agent this past spring. He spent almost three months with the Carolina Panthers over the summer.
The Steelers have an open roster spot because they released kicker Laith Marjan on Sunday.
Steelers Host Eli Ricks, 2 Other DBs for Tryouts
GettyFormer Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Eli Ricks tried out for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
At some point, the Steelers were very likely to move on from their backup kicker. They did it with a week to go in the preseason, which will give the club an opportunity to bring in another player.
It’s pretty clear the Steelers want to make an addition to the secondary.
If they want the most experienced of the three players from Sunday’s tryouts, Ricks is the answer. He also has versatility. Ricks played 315 defensive snaps and 263 snaps on special teams in 23 games with the Eagles.
Ricks has also appeared in a playoff game.
Williams lined up for just four defensive snaps with the Seahawks two years ago. He played 133 special teams snaps in 12 contests.
The defensive back also appeared in one game for the Giants. Like Ricks, he didn’t have an appearance last season.
Guilbeau played college football at Texas. Given that experience and his youth, perhaps he has the most upside.
But he has zero NFL experience outside of a brief stay with the Panthers this summer.
Carolina placed Guilbeau on the reserve/non-football injury list on July 21. The team waived him with a non-football injury designation the following day.
Pittsburgh Released Kicker Laith Marjan
GettyThe Steelers have an open roster spot because they released kicker Laith Marjan on Sunday.
Whoever the Steelers choose to sign with their open roster spot will face very long odds at making the 53-man roster. But he will have a better chance than Marjan.
In Pittsburgh, Marjan’s best-case scenario this month was making the team because of a Chris Boswell injury. Otherwise, he was kicking to get another opportunity with a different team.
The Steelers, though, released Marjan two days after he missed a 44-yard field goal in Week 2 of the preseason. That was his only attempt in the contest.
During Week 1 of the exhibition campaign, Marjan made three extra points. He didn’t kick a field goal.
The Steelers will conclude the preseason Thursday against the Buffalo Bills. The team will have to cut its roster to 53 players by 6 pm ET on Sunday, August 30.
Steelers Host Former Eagles Super Bowl Champion DB for Tryout