Steelers Writer Suggests Veteran Could Be A Surprising Cut Candidate

The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting closer and closer to the 2026 season. Pretty soon, training camp in Latrobe will get into full force and the Steelers will be playing preseason games before fans know it. As those dates near, some other transactions will need to be made before the season gets going. Hopefully, that brings good news such as extending young stars in Keeanu Benton and Joey Porter Jr. Pittsburgh brought a deep class of players seeking extensions to Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and most of them have signed, but those two are the ones who are left.

While retaining them would be massive finisher to the offseason, there will also come some bad news. That includes cutting players to trim the rosters down. These individuals should all get a look during the exhibition games, but it may not be enough to remain with the Steelers. Among the cut candidates for general manager Omar Khan and co, Steelers' writer Jim Wexell stated on a recent podcast that there is one that stands out.

Wexell believes that Pittsburgh might move on from Sebastian Joseph-Day as he recently limped off the field with a calf injury last week. While the severity is unknown, Wexell doesn't feel strongly that he makes the roster. 

"With 26, there's one guy that needs to be cut," Wexell mentioned on The Steel City Insider Podcast. "Joseph-Day limped off with a calf injury last week. I don't know the severity of it, but that's a guy I have as a potential cut."

Considering how deep the Steelers are on the defensive line, it might be very difficult for Joseph-Day to make the roster, even if he just signed a two-year deal. After all, one of their key members of that unit is seeking a big payday in Benton, along with star Cameron Heyward still serving as the anchor in there. Yahya Black emerging also deepens this position, along with other defenders having a very impressive start to the year, which might make it very difficult for Joseph-Day to push through. 

If his calf injury turns into something major, he could land on the Injured Reserve (IR), but for now, Wexell considers him as a cut candidate. When and if the Steelers do officially make this move, the veteran should get a chance elsewhere. He does still have some value as Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 40th best interior defensive lineman in 2025 out of 134. His grade of 66.6 was strong, along with an 20 pressures, ranking 62nd. 

There's still some value with Joseph-Day, but getting hurt doesn't help his case in making Pittsburgh's roster. His numbers from last season definitely help his case, but it doesn't seem likely after Wexell's theory.

Hopefully, the defensive line starts to look a little better in 2026, even with Joseph-Day as a roster cut candidate. Newly-hired coach Domata Peko has given good early reviews from a Black. Veteran leadership from Joseph-Day would have been valuable to this unit, but it still gets that from Heyward and Peko as a coach.

Aside from the defensive line, Wexell named a couple of other players that could be cut in the linebacker core as well. He wasn't sure if Jamin Davis would make the roster, along with Malik Harrison. He noted that Carson Bruener was a guy he wouldn't cut, forcing odd men out as well. 

Steelers' Joseph-Day Might Be A Cut Candidate

While there should be good news approaching with Benton and Porter, there will be some upsetting cuts coming up. As Steelers' insider Wexell noted on his recent podcast appearance, one of the big cuts that could be made soon is veteran defensive lineman Joseph-Day. 

While his numbers did rank above average in the NFL, Pittsburgh does host a very strong group of defensive lineman that makes it difficult to carry this many. A calf injury likely hurts his chances, but if he gets cut, he will likely land elsewhere, keeping his stint in Pittsburgh to a very short period of his long career. 

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