Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have waived running back Trey Sermon, the team announced on Wednesday.
Sermon had just been promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Saturday, as he played in his fourth game for the team this season against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Players can only be elevated from the practice squad three times in a season, so Sermon needed to be signed to the 53-man roster in order to play against the Chargers.
He was waived to make room for rookie quarterback Will Howard to return from the injured reserve list.
In four games, Sermon played almost exclusively on special teams, earning 47 snaps on special teams and one snap of offense against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9. He returned two kickoffs for 51 yards and also recorded one tackle while playing on the team’s kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return teams.
A former third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, Sermon has played in 46 career NFL games over five seasons. He has rushed 134 times for 505 yards, caught 22 passes for 138 yards and scored three total touchdowns.
The Steelers signed Sermon on May 11 after a tryout at rookie minicamp. The 6-foot, 215-pound Sermon is a bigger player than any of the three backs on the roster.
The 26-year-old played well for the Steelers this preseason, rushing 10 times for 50 yards, with his 5.0 yards per carry finishing second on the team. He also scored the team’s lone rushing touchdown of the preseason and caught eight passes for 46 yards. Sermon’s 96 yards from scrimmage were third on the team this preseason.
He was released in the team’s final cut-down to 53 players in August, but was re-signed to the team’s practice squad, where he has served as the No. 4 running back behind Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell and Kaleb Johnson all season.
If he clears waivers, Sermon could return to the practice squad to resume that role.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Waive Versatile Veteran Running Back
