Projected 53-Man Final Roster After 3 Preseason Games and Other Goodies

With three preseason games in the books, here is the projected 53-man opening-day roster for the Steelers, predicted opening-day inactives, unlucky last 16 not to make the team, lucky last 16 clinging to a roster spot and the projected eight-man practice squad.

Many guys on the fringe will have one last chance to impress this Thursday. While this 53-man roster remains the same as my projection after preseason game No. 2, some of the players closest to the fringe have changed slightly both for those most likely to be cut and those closest to being released who are currently projected to make the team. For now, tell me where you disagree.

53-Man, Opening-Day Roster
** = Roster Lock (95% or better barring major injury or arrest)
* = Roster Near Lock (75-94% barring major injury or arrest)
No stars = Clinging to the 53-man roster at this point of the preseason

QB Byron Leftwich **
QB Dennis Dixon **
RB Reshard Mendenhall **
RB Mewelde Moore **
RB/FB Isaac Redman *
FB/RB Frank Summers *
TE Heath Miller **
TE Matt Spaeth **
TE/FB D. Johnson *
WR Hines Ward **
WR Mike Wallace **
WR Antwaan Randle El *
WR Emmanuel Sanders **
WR Arnaz Battle
WR Antonio Brown
LT Max Starks **
LG Chris Kemoeatu **
C Maurkice Pouncey **
RG Trai Essex **
RT Flozell Adams *
C/G/FB Doug Legursky *
G/T Ramon Foster *
T Jonathan Scott
T Tony Hills

DE Aaron Smith **
NT Casey Hampton **
DE Brett Keisel **
DE Ziggy Hood **
NT Chris Hoke **
DE Nick Eason
DE Sunny Harris
OLB James Harrison **
OLB LaMarr Woodley **
OLB Jason Worilds **
OLB Thad Gibson *
ILB James Farrior **
ILB Lawrence Timmons **
ILB Larry Foote **
ILB Keyaron Fox *
ILB Stevenson Sylvester
SS Troy Polamalu **
FS Ryan Clark **
S Will Allen **
S Ryan Mundy *
CB Ike Taylor **
CB Bryant McFadden **
CB William Gay *
CB Keenan Lewis
CB Joe Burnett
CB Crezdon Butler

K Jeff Reed **
P/K Daniel Sepulveda **
SN Greg Warren *

Suspended List: QB Ben Roethlisberger
IR: OT Willie Colon
IR: WR Limas Sweed
PUP: OT Chris Scott

Note: Roethlisberger does not count toward the 53-man roster while on the suspension list.

Note: Batch will likely be cut to trim the list to 53. Thus, the Steelers would not have to pay him a full year’s salary when he is likely to be cut for good (barring injury to another QB) after Roethlisberger returns from suspension following week No. 4. However, Batch may be re-signed quickly after the cut as soon as his full salary does not count toward the entire season. At that point, one of the seven DL (Harris or Eason) or a CB (Butler or Burnett) is most likely to be cut.

Note: Running backs Redman and Summers are both likely to make the Steelers’ initial 53-man roster. However, one could be released shortly afterward if Pittsburgh elects to sign a running back (likely more experienced) released from another team to its 53-man roster.

Opening Game-Day Inactives if Everyone is Healthy (8): WR Emmanuel Sanders, OT Tony Hills, OT Jonathan Scott, DE Nick Eason, DE Sunny Harris, OLB Jason Worilds, CB Joe Burnett, CB Crezdon Butler. Note: In this projection, the Steelers do not keep or dress an emergency third QB on their roster; instead, Randle El would be the third QB in case of multiple injuries.

Last 16 Released From Camp (in order of how close they are to making team and their position matters): 1. QB Charlie Batch, 2. CB/ST Anthony Madison, 3. C Justin Hartwig, 4. OG-C Kraig Urbik, 5. RB Jonathan Dwyer, 6. DE Doug Worthington, 7. WR Tyler Grisham, 8. RET Stefan Logan, 9. LB Patrick Bailey, 10. FB/TE Sean McHugh, 11. SN Matt Stewart, 12. LB/ST Renauld Williams, 13. S Justin Thornton, 14. WR Brandon London, 15. RB Justin Vincent, 16. OG Dorian Brooks

Last 16 To Make the Team (in order of likelihood of being cut and their position matters): 1. DE Sunny Harris, 2. ILB Stevenson Sylvester, 3. OT Tony Hills 4. DE Nick Eason, 5. OT Jonathan Scott, 6. CB Crezdon Butler, 7. WR Antonio Brown, 8. CB Joe Burnett, 9. WR Arnaz Battle, 10. CB Keenan Lewis, 11. FB/TB Frank Summers, 12. S Ryan Mundy, 13. RB Isaac Redman, 14. SN Greg Warren, 15. ILB Keyaron Fox, 16. TE/FB David Johnson

Practice Squad (8): RB Jonathan Dwyer or a RB released from another team if Dwyer signs elsewhere, WR Tyler Grisham, TE Eugene Bright or more likely a QB, TE or FB released from another team, OG/C Dorian Brooks, OT Kyle Jolly or more likely an OT released from another team, DE Doug Worthington, a LB or NT released from another team, S Justin Thornton

Related posts:

1. Projected 53-Man Final Roster After 2 Preseason Games and Other Goodies
2. Projected 53-Man Final Roster After 1 Preseason Game And Other Goodies
3. Projected 53-Man Final Roster Entering Camp And Other Goodies
4. Wait, What? Antonio Brown Might Not Make the Final 53?
5. Steelers Should Cut Hartwig, Keep Hills On 53-Man Roster