Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have claimed punter Aidan Laros off waivers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Laros, a Capetown, South Africia native, was an undrafted free agent out of Kentucky. He averaged 44.5 yards per punt last year. In his collegiate career, he had 134 punts for 6,137 yards with a 45.8 career average.
Laros played two seasons at the University of Kentucky, after spending time at Charlotte and University of Tennessee at Martin.
In his final season at Kentucky, he handled punts and kickoffs and was on the Ray Guy watch list. He was ranked seventh in the SEC and 31st nationally in punting.
Prior to the Laros signing, Cameron Johnston was the only punter on the Steelers’ roster.
Johnston, 34, joined the Steelers as a free agent in 2024, but was lost for the season to a major leg injury in Week 2. The Steelers signed Corliss Waitman to replace Johnston, who spent the entire year and much of the 2025 offseason rehabbing his leg injury.
Waitman punted well in 2024, averaging 46.4 yards per punt gross and 41.9 yards per punt net, with 41.5% of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
Last offseason, the Steelers held a competition between Johnston and Waitman, and the younger Waitman surprisingly won the battle and the starting job. Johnston was waived and caught on with the Buffalo Bills, where another injury sidelined him, this time to his foot after a roughing the kicker penalty.
In a corresponding move, the Steelers waived wide receiver Brandon Johnson.
During stays with the Denver Broncos and Steelers, Johnson has totaled 26 career receptions for 335 yards and five touchdowns.
The Steelers signed Johnson, 27, in April, beginning his third stint with the team. Throughout OTAs and minicamp, Johnson has been one of the three wideouts staying the latest after practice catching balls from the JUGS machine, joining Roman Wilson and Max Hurleman.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Claim Punter Off Waivers From Buccaneers
