Behind the Steel Curtain
The Steelers adjusted their practice squad on Tuesday, signing wide receiver John Rhys Plumlee and releasing safety Jack Henderson to make room.
This will mark Plumlee’s third stint with the Steelers. He spent the summer with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2024 but didn’t make the initial roster or practice squad, spending the season with the Jaguars and Seahawks. Plumlee was waived by Seattle ahead of the 2025 seasons, signing back with the Steelers practice squad in October.
Pittsburgh released Plumlee again on Nov. 4. Now, he finds himself back in Pittsburgh.
To make room for Plumlee, Pittsburgh released Henderson, who signed with the team on Oct. 6 after being released by the New England Patriots in September.
The Steelers also worked out five players on Tuesday, reported by ESPN’s Brooke Pryor via the NFL transaction sheet.
The players include quarterbacks Jason Bean and Tanner Mordecai, as well as wide receivers Cole Burgess, Elijah Cooks, and Cornell Powell.
All were undrafted except for Powell, who went in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft to the Kansas City Chiefs out of Clemson. He’s played in three career games and has yet to record a catch at the NFL level. The 6’0, 204-pound wide receiver ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
