Steelers sign 5 to reserve/future deals; strength and conditioning coach quits.
The Pittsburgh Steelers continued to add to their offseason roster on Tuesday, signing five players to reserve/future contracts.
Three cornerbacks have been signed. Each of the five spent at least part of the past season on the Steelers’ practice squad.
• Outside linebacker David Perales was one of the undrafted rookie free agents signed shortly after the draft, and he spent most of the season on the practice squad. Perales recorded 22 ½ sacks in 33 FBS games at Fresno State.
• Cornerback. Kalon Barnes spent 11 days in September with the Steelers, one of six teams he has played for since being drafted in the seventh round by the Carolina Panthers in 2022. As a rookie with the Minnesota Vikings, he appeared in two regular-season games.
• Cornerback. Thomas Graham Jr. has 11 regular-season games (one start) in the NFL after being drafted in the sixth round by the Chicago Bears in 2021, however he did not play in any games last season. Most recently, he was on the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad.
• Inside linebacker Tyler Murray made for an interesting story in November when he said he quit his work at an Amazon warehouse when the Steelers called to give him a deal with their practice squad. He was cut six days later, though.
• Cornerback. Josiah Scott is a versatile four-year NFL veteran who joined the Steelers practice squad just before the regular season began. Scott, however, was placed on the practice squad’s injured list and only appeared in four midseason games for the Philadelphia Eagles. Over the last four seasons, he has appeared in 39 games with the Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars combined.
Teams can have a maximum of 90 players on their offseason rosters and in the preseason.
S&C coach exits.
The Steelers and head strength and conditioning coach Marcel Pastoor have parted ways, according to a social media post by Pastoor. Pastoor had been with the company for 23 years. Pastoor formerly worked as an assistant from 2001 until 2021. On Tuesday, his biography was no longer available on the Steelers’ official website.
Fans of the Steelers, particularly those who have attended training camp workouts at Saint Vincent, may recall Pastoor working out with players as a de facto extra quarterback during drills.
“I have been unbelievably gifted to work for the greatest company, greatest owners and coaches and staff for the past 23 years, and I am ready for a change,” according to Pastoor’s LinkedIn profile.
