For the second time in the span of about a week, the Pittsburgh Steelers are parting ways with veteran wide receiver Robert Woods.
The Steelers announced Tuesday they released Woods from their practice squad. The team made the announcement with the organization’s official X account.
Ahead of the NFL’s roster deadline at 4 pm ET on August 26, the Steelers terminated Woods’ contract. That allowed him to sign with any team in free agency last week.
But Woods returned to the Steelers on the team’s first practice squad.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that Woods had a change of heart about his practice squad role. Rapoport posted on social media Woods requested the Steelers release him.
Robert Woods asked for and was granted his release from the Steelers practice squad, and a source says he only wants to continue playing if he’s on a 53-man roster and playing,” tweeted Rapoport.
With Woods’ departure, the Steelers have an open practice squad spot. Undrafted rookie Ke’Shawn Williams is the only receiver remaining on Pittsburgh’s practice squad.
Steelers Part Ways With WR Robert Woods
The initial reaction to Woods’ release from Steelers fans and pundits on social media was confusion. Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora may have summarized it best.
“I dunno why he accepted a PS spot (in Pittsburgh, where he knew he wasn’t going to be elevated) but okay, that’s taken care of,” tweeted Kozora.
The obvious rebuttal is maybe Woods considered himself an obvious practice squad elevation. NFL teams can elevate a player from their practice squad three times without needing to expose him to waivers. League rules also allow teams to elevate two practice squad players per game.
But the Steelers have five healthy receivers on their 53-man roster. Woods didn’t appear to be an obvious elevation choice for Week 1.
Despite the lack of 2024 production among the receivers on the active roster, the Steelers are confident in their group. The Steelers have DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III listed as the first-team receivers on the depth chart. Pundits expect veteran Scotty Miller and 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson to receive opportunities too.
Ben Skowronek, who is more of a special teams contributor, is the team’s fifth receiver.
Woods has played minimal special teams during his NFL career. His presence on the practice squad wasn’t for versatility but rather for veteran receiver insurance in case of injury.
Last season, the 33-year-old posted 203 receiving yards on 20 catches with the Houston Texans. Woods has registered two 1,000-yard campaigns in his career. But his most recent one was 2019.
Steelers to Use Tight Ends to Mask Lack of WR2?
Again, the Steelers appear confident in their receiver room. But head coach Mike Tomlin suggested Tuesday that the team’s receivers don’t have to carry the entire load of the Pittsburgh passing attack.
After touting Austin and Wilson in an answer to a media question Tuesday, Tomlin quickly pivoted to discussing the team’s tight end depth.
“I’m extremely confident in [Austin] but I’m also equally confident in Roman Wilson, in Jonnu [Smith] and [Pat] Freiermuth,” Tomlin said. “There’s a lot of speculations and narratives about a quote-unquote No. 2 [WR] but I just think in today’s game, it comes at you in a lot of ways.
“We certainly have unique depth and talent at the tight end position … Jonnu is somewhat of a position-less player.”
Tomlin concluded saying it could be a collection of players who make up the No. 2 receiver role in Pittsburgh’s offense this season. The head coach sees the potential of a lot of pass-catchers seeing opportunities with Metcalf possibly drawing double coverage.
But after Tuesday, one thing is for certain, Woods will not be one of the pass-catchers with that opportunity.
Steelers Announce Releasing Veteran Wide Receiver: Report