Prior to their match up with the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium, the Steelers made a number of roster changes.
Linebacker Kyron Johnson was signed to the 53-man roster off the practice squad, and defensive back Elijah Riley was reinstated from the Reserve/Injured List.
Moreover, safety Eric Rowe and linebacker Myles Jack were promoted from the practice squad to the Active/Inactive Roster for the game. Following the game, they will return to the practice squad.
After getting hurt during the Steelers’ Week 11 matchup with the Cleveland Browns, Riley was placed on the Reserve/Injured List on November 20. As a result, he no longer has an injury classification for the game.
Riley has made seven tackles in 10 games this season, including two special teams tackles, one sack, three solo stops, and two tackles for a loss.
On October 10, Johnson was first added to the practice squad. For the games against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13, the New England Patriots in Week 14, and the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15, he was moved to the Active/Inactive roster.
Johnson was drafted by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He played in 16 games last season, mainly on special teams.
Jack was signed to the practice squad on Nov. 20. Jack, who was most recently with the Philadelphia Eagles before informing them he was going to retire before the start of the season, is no stranger to the Steelers. He originally signed with the team as an unrestricted free agent in the 2022 offseason.
Jack spent one season with the Steelers before being released at the beginning of free agency in 2023. Jack played in 15 games in 2022, starting 13. He finished the season with a team-high 104 tackles, 61 of them solo stops. He had three tackles for a loss and three passes defensed.
Jack spent six seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, starting 83 of the 89 games he played in with the Jaguars. In his six seasons he recorded 511 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, 17 quarterback hits, three interceptions, 15 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns.
Rowe was signed to the practice squad on Nov. 20. He is in his ninth season in the NFL.
He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has since spent time with the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins and most recently the Carolina Panthers.
He played in 62 games with 38 starts. He has amassed 300 tackles, including six tackles for a loss, three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, and two sacks.
On Thursday the team released running back Anthony McFarland Jr.
McFarland spent time on the Reserve/Injured List earlier this year and has only played in three games this season.
McFarland was drafted by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
