Steelers Won’t Keep Fullback on Initial 53-Man Roster

Despite a significant workload throughout training camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers will not be keeping a fullback on their active roster to start the 2024 season, as Jack Colletto, the lone fullback on the squad, was placed on waivers on Tuesday, according to a report by Brooke Pryor of ESPN.

Colletto, who was on the Steelers’ practice squad last year, is a strong candidate to return there, should he clear waivers. 

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith used a fullback more than any other team in the NFL last season when he was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, but when it comes to roster construction, said that he defers to the needs of special teams coach Danny Smith, and Colletto was unable to carve out a multi-faceted role in order to make the 53-man roster.

“It goes back to matchups. If we’re playing a team that we think gives us an advantage playing two backs, then how much do you put in that game plan?” Smith said during training camp. “I give Jack a lot of credit because we’ve challenged him, and he’s been very physical out here and he’s a smart football player, and the big picture, we’ll have to develop. 

“Again if somebody’s up in maybe a week and you have a fullback up. The easiest way to get on the roster, whether you’re a backup tight end, wide receiver, or running back or a fullback, is to do really well for Danny [Smith]. Then you get a helmet every week and then we can use those guys. So, it’s a lot of collaboration.”

The Steelers have not had a dedicated fullback on the 53-man roster since Derek Watt was not retained at the end of the 2022 season, and Watt was also the club’s special teams captain,

Tight ends Connor Heyward and MyCole Pruitt have both played fullback before and be used in that role, if Smith wants to.

In addition to Colletto, linebacker Kyron Johnson, wide receiver Quez Watkins and cornerback Thomas Graham were released before the 4 p.m. deadline on Tuesday.