Steelers release veteran corner

The Steelers were one of several teams who made adjustments to their roster on Tuesday with cut day looming on the horizon. The past two days saw the team put center Nate Herbig on injured reserve followed by his roster spot being taken up by linebacker Kyahva Tezino. The latest roster adjustment saw Pittsburgh release veteran cornerback Anthony Averett, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.

Averett is a former fourth-round pick out of Alabama who was originally drafted by the Steelers’ division rival in Baltimore. He spent the duration of his rookie contract with the Ravens, gradually increasing his role until he became a full-time starter at cornerback in 2021. Injuries often hampered his availability, limiting him to just 51 of a possible 65 games, but in his contract year, Averett started all 14 games he appeared in, recording career-highs in tackles (54), interceptions (3) and passes defensed (11).

Those efforts earned him a one-year, $4M deal with the Raiders. In Las Vegas, Averett would make six more starts in seven appearances, but injuries would limit him to just that in 2022. Last year, Averett signed with the 49ers late in the offseason, but was released two weeks later. He signed to the Lions practice squad in early October, but would only remain there for five weeks before being released again. The Steelers signed him back in May, hoping he would add some experienced depth behind Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson.

Quickly filling up Averett’s roster spot, the Steelers signed defensive end Marcus Haynes, who was waived by the Browns a week ago. Additionally, another defensive back hit the free-agent market as the team released cornerback Grayland Arnold from IR with an injury settlement, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2.