Steelers sign 16 to 2025 practice squad

The Steelers officially announced the signing of 16 players to the team’s 2025 practice squad on Wednesday:

Defensive Back: Beanie Bishop, Sebastian Castro, D’Shawn Jamison, James Pierre, Daryl Porter
Defensive Line: Kyler Baugh, DeMarvin Leal
Outside linebacker: Julius Welschof
Offensive Line: Dylan Cook, Steven Jones
Running Back: Lew Nichols, Trey Sermon
Tight End: JJ Galbreath
Wide Receiver: Max Hurleman, Ke’Shawn Williams, Robert Woods

While NFL practice squads have a limit of 16 players, outside linebacker Julius Welschof should qualify for the International Pathway Program exemption again in 2025, meaning the Steelers should still have one available spot on the practice squad.

Interestingly, all 16 players were with the Steelers over the summer. Across the team’s initial 53-man roster and practice squad, no new faces were added this week.

From BTSC’s practice squad tracker article:

Practice squad basics

• Teams have 16 spots to fill, with the possibility for a 17th if the player has an International Pathway Program exemption (outside linebacker Julius Welschof has filled this role recently for Pittsburgh).
• Ten practice squad players must have no more than two accrued NFL seasons (accrued means on a roster, injured reserve, or PUP list for six games or more).
• The other six can be veterans, with no limits on their past NFL experience.
• Teams can temporarily promote two practice squad players per week to the active roster. However, they can only do so up to three times per player before having to officially sign that player to the 53-man roster.
• Teams can “protect” four practice squad players each week from being poached (signed to another 53-man roster) by another team.