Pittsburgh Steelers sign safety Damon Cromartie-Smith, others to practice squad – NFL News
After failing to win a place on the 53-player roster, safety Damon Cromartie-Smith has made it to Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad for second season straight.
The Steelers in the drive to cut their final roster strength down at 53 members as per requirement of the National Football League (NFL) left Damon and several other players out of the final selection.
Next day the team confirmed to have signed all those players to their practice squad, making the safety available on the squad to assist in training and other workout activity for second consecutive year.
He is the only player who is going to spend a longer period on the team’s practice squad as the rest of the group comprises players who had been taken on board for training camp phase earlier this year. Teams are allowed to keep up to 93 players on their
respective rosters during training camp and other preseason phases.
Damon had done reasonably well during training camp of the team and there were some hopes he might be given an opportunity in the final selection this year, but he remained unlucky to win a spot.
The Steelers, and also the player, have confirmed the release and re-signing to the practice squad, which nevertheless facilitates him to be a Steeler, for a shorter run at least.
He still has got a chance of promotion to the main squad anytime during the season but purely in an injury scenario. Otherwise, he is most likely to serve the rest of the season on the practice squad.
Other players released by the team are cornerback Josh Victorian, linebacker Marshall McFadden, receivers Toney Clemons and David Gilreath, tight end Jamie McCoy and offensive linemen Ryan Lee and John Malecki.
Gilreath is another player who was projected by some commentators as a potential candidate for winning a place on the final roster of the team. The main argument was that the player had performed well during preseason phase, catching five passes measuring
up to 78 yards in total.
Apart from the notable pair, almost all other players did not show so much potential so as to stand a chance of making it to the final selection of the squad.
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