Steelers Cut Ties with Blocking Specialist Tight End

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released tight end Matt Sokol, the team announced on Tuesday.

Sokol joined the team early in training camp after an injury to tight end Rodney Williams II, but even after Williams returned, he found work as a blocking specialist and the sixth tight end on the team’s depth chart.

In three preseason games with the Steelers, Sokol appeared in 30 snaps, and was a blocker on 22 of them, going out into a passing route just eight times. He was targeted once, but not make the catch.

Sokol also worked on special teams, especially the kickoff return and punt coverage units, but was unable to crack the rotation, especially with special teams-heavy tight ends Connor Heyward, MyCole Pruitt and Rodney Williams II ahead of him on the depth chart.

Originally joining the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State in 2019, Sokol has also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions and New England Patriots. He played in two games for the Chargers in 2020 and three for the Patriots in each of the last two seasons.