On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The Pittsburgh Steelers have released right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, the team announced on Monday.
Okorafor, 26, had been with the team since the Steelers drafted him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan.
A native of Ibadan, Nigeria, Okorafor became a starter for the Steelers in the 2020 season, when he replaced an injured Zach Banner at right tackle in the season opener against the New York Giants.
Okorafor started every game that season, and then when Banner was unable to return from his injury in 2021, moved back from left tackle to right tackle to allow rookie Dan Moore Jr. to play his more natural position.
Okorafor and Moore remained the Steelers’ starting tackles until midway through the 2023 season, when Okorafor was benched in favor of first-round draft pick Broderick Jones.
Okorafor said he was benched for a comment about not wanting to continue to run plays as the team was hopelessly behind the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8. That ended up being his last Steelers action at tackle, outside of a handful of plays as a sixth offensive lineman down the stretch run of the season.
During locker clean-out day after the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 15, Okorafor seemed resigned to his fate with the team.
“If I had known that was going to be the case, I probably wouldn’t have chose to come back here,” he said. “But at that point, there wasn’t anything I could do about it.”
Okorafor said he still believes that he’s a starting-caliber NFL tackle.
“That’s the plan,” he said. “I think I’m young. I feel like I’ve got a lot of ball left in me.”
By releasing Okorafor, the Steelers will realize significant salary cap savings for the 2024 season, which was his last year under contract with the team.
Okorafor’s release will save the Steelers $8.75 million in 2024 salary cap space while incurring a $3.08 million dead cap hit.
In addition to Okorafor, the Steelers also announced the release of quarterback Mitch Trubisky and punter Pressley Harvin III on Monday.
More must-reads:
- Bills turn focus to Super Bowl pursuit by ending James Cook contract saga
- Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension
- The '2023 NFL AP second-team All-Pro' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Green Bay Packers Avoid Major Injury With 2 Key Offensive Playmakers
Training camp and preseason are all about staying healthy for the start of the season. For the Green Bay Packers, Tuesday’s practice on August 12, 2025, served as a reminder of how fickle luck can be. Tight end Luke Musgrave and wide receiver Romeo Doubs both sent shockwaves through training camp when they went down with injuries during practice. Thankfully, the latest updates have fans breathing a collective sigh of relief as both players appear to have avoided serious setbacks. With both Musgrave and Doubs set to play pivotal roles in the Packers’ offense this season, their health becomes a top priority as the team inches closer to the regular season. Here’s everything you need to know about their injury scares, subsequent updates, and what it all means for Green Bay’s 2025 outlook. Green Bay Packers Injury Scares Luke Musgrave’s Ankle Jolt Luke Musgrave, the Packers’ promising tight end drafted in 2023, sent tension rippling through the camp after hurting his ankle during an otherwise celebratory moment. Shortly after making a touchdown grab, Musgrave appeared to tweak his ankle and was visibly uncomfortable. With each cautious step, anxiety loomed heavy over the coaching staff, the fans, and the young tight end hoping to lock in his position as one of Jordan Love’s go-to weapons. Romeo Doubs’ Back Collision Minutes later, another scare followed—this time involving Romeo Doubs, one of the key cogs in Green Bay’s wide receiver corps. Doubs collided with safety Evan Williams on an incomplete deep ball, the impact leaving him slow to rise and clutching his lower back. He was taken to the Hutson Center for further evaluation, leaving a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the practice field. Positive Updates Highlight Potential Return Despite Tuesday’s ominous moments, Wednesday brought welcome news for Green Bay. Both Musgrave and Doubs appear to have avoided long-term injuries, with reporters noting that neither player is dealing with anything serious enough to threaten their availability for the season opener. “Seems both Romeo Doubs and Luke Musgrave are OK after injury scares yesterday,” noted Packers insider Zach Kruse. This promising update means that both players could return to action soon, ensuring the Packers’ offense remains intact as the team continues preparation for Week 1. What Their Health Means for the Packers’ Offense The Packers’ offense operates with one goal in mind this season—establishing rhythm and continuity under quarterback Jordan Love, who is entering his inaugural campaign as the definitive starter. Doubs and Musgrave are central to that plan, and their health will play a critical role in Green Bay’s potential success. Luke Musgrave’s Role at Tight End Musgrave, with his 6-foot-6 frame and elite athleticism, is expected to be a dynamic option in the red zone and over the middle of the field. His ability to stretch defenses with his straight-line speed gives Jordan Love a pivotal mismatch to exploit. With Packers coach Matt LaFleur known for creative schemes involving tight ends, Musgrave is poised to surpass his rookie-year contributions and become one of the team’s top offensive weapons. An extended absence would leave Green Bay thin at tight end, forcing them to lean too heavily on backups like Tucker Kraft. Musgrave dodging serious injury is a huge sigh of relief for the coaching staff looking to build around their versatile second-year player. Romeo Doubs’ Importance to the Receiver Room Romeo Doubs enters the 2025 season with a chance to take another step forward as a reliable and potentially explosive wide receiver. With Christian Watson and Jayden Reed entering their third and fourth year, respectively, Doubs slots as a complementary target with the ability to move the chains and create chunk plays. The injury scare highlighted just how fragile the team’s depth at wide receiver can be. Any significant time missed by Doubs would leave the Packers scrambling between lesser-proven options like Dontayvion Wicks and rookie pass-catchers to fill the void. Thankfully, Green Bay won’t need to shuffle the depth chart just yet—a massive win for maintaining offensive stability down the stretch of camp. The Packers’ Injury Landscape Musgrave and Doubs’ recoveries come as part of a broader injury narrative for the Packers this preseason. With quarterback Jordan Love nursing a thumb injury and other depth players sidelined, the team has been walking a fine line between preparation and preservation. Coach Matt LaFleur has stressed a cautious approach to managing workloads in camp, aiming to ensure all 53 regular-season contributors are healthy and ready when the games matter most. With Musgrave and Doubs added to the list of “narrow escapes,” it’s clear the Packers have dodged a significant bullet in maintaining the offensive cohesion their new-look roster needs to gel. Final Thoughts The injury updates on Luke Musgrave and Romeo Doubs may not seem headline-worthy given they avoided serious setbacks, but their importance to Green Bay’s offense cannot be overstated. Both players represent key building blocks in an evolving attack centered on unlocking the full potential of Jordan Love. For now, Packers fans and coaches alike can breathe easy knowing their $12-million offensive duo is still on track for a healthy and impactful 2025 campaign. But as camp rolls on and preseason games begin, the emphasis for Green Bay will remain clear—avoid losses on the injury report at all costs.
Three teams that should take a flier on Odell Beckham Jr. for the 2025 season
Former New York Giants superstar and current free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. emerged in the headlines on Tuesday afternoon. The 32-year-old took to X (formerly Twitter) to shut down a fake report that he was retiring from the NFL. Beckham spent the 2024 season with the Miami Dolphins in a very limited role, recording just nine receptions for 55 yards in nine games. However, he was a solid contributor as a Baltimore Raven the year prior, showing that he can still provide some production at this point in his career. Given that OBJ has no interest in calling it quits just yet, let’s look at three teams that should take a shot on the three-time Pro Bowler to see how much juice he’s got left in him. New York Giants How about a reunion in the Big Apple? It would only be fitting for Beckham to finish his career in the place where it all started. Superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers runs the show on offense, but after that, there are plenty of question marks. Wide receivers Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton slot in as solid options behind Nabers, but it would not hurt to add a veteran like Beckham into the mix. He knows what it's like playing in such a big market and could mentor the Giants' young offensive weapons while providing some depth production when called upon. Las Vegas Raiders There may not be a team with more of a need at the wide receiver position than the Las Vegas Raiders. The targets are understandably funneled to superstar tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but they need help beyond those two. Third-year wide receiver Tre Tucker and rookie wideouts Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. are next in line. While those three may play big roles right from the start, the Raiders could certainly use another experienced pass-catcher, and Beckham is a nice option to fill that role. Perhaps he even shows himself to be worthy of the WR2 spot. Buffalo Bills The third team that could be in play for Beckham is the Buffalo Bills. With Josh Allen in his prime, they need to continue putting weapons around him whenever possible. Second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman and free-agent signing Joshua Palmer are atop the depth chart in Buffalo, while reliable wideout Khalil Shakir is nicked up with an ankle injury. Longtime Carolina Panthers receiver Curtis Samuel also remains in the mix but is dealing with a hamstring ailment and has had injury woes in the past. Outside of Shakir, it's hard to know what you're going to get from the rest of the position group. Beckham will likely want to join a contender or somewhere he can play more of a factor than he did with the Dolphins in 2024-25, so keep an eye on the Bills.
Dolphins' All-Pro Receiver Predicted To Request A Trade
The Miami Dolphins have had anything but a smooth sailing 12 months. Coming off an impressive 11-6 record in 2023, the franchise’s best since 2008, the sky looked to be the limit for the Dolphins. However, they struggled to build upon the foundation laid before them and fell to an 8-9 record. From then on, the offseason and preseason have been a brutal testing of patience for Dolphins fans. One storyline that hasn’t gone away is the future of All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill. After telling reporters he was done with the team in 2024, Hill has been a constant source of confusion and stress in Miami. He’s still with the team and has since apologised and said he wants to remain a member of the Dolphins, but one NFL writer still believes it's just a matter of time before Hill wants out. Per Alex Kay of Bleacher Report, Tyreek Hill is one of four NFL players predicted to request a trade before the 2025 NFL season kicks off. “According to ESPN’s JeremyFowler, rival franchises are monitoring Hill's shaky status with the Dolphins and keying in on him as a potential trade target.” Kay writes. “While Fowler did note Miami's brass was rejecting overtures for Hill earlier in the offseason, the playmaker has since gone on to miss all of training camp with an oblique injury, an ailment that has muddied his status and role with the team.” Figuring out where the Dolphins stand with Hill isn’t easy. He’s been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL over the last three years in Miami, catching 319 passes for 4468 yards and 26 touchdowns since 2022, but there was some noticeable regression in his game in 2024. “After tallying a whopping 464 targets over the last three seasons combined—only three receivers have garnered more looks in that span—he could quickly become dissatisfied with a lesser role in the Dolphins' offensive game plan.” Kay adds. “If Hill returns from injury and continues to regress following an 81-catch, 959-yard, six-touchdown season (his worst since an injury-shortened 2019 campaign), it wouldn't be shocking to see him ask to be dealt.” The Dolphins have aspirations of the playoffs and beyond in 2025, but the roster might struggle to stack up against the best the AFC has to offer, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Hill will similarly share those ambitions, but if the going gets tough in Miami or if there’s some major dissatisfaction regarding the direction of the team, Kay believes Hill could seek a trade.
Bills turn focus to Super Bowl pursuit by ending James Cook contract saga
As soon as it was confirmed on Tuesday that Buffalo Bills running back James Cook planned to resume practicing because things had "changed" regarding his desire for a contract extension, it seemed to be a matter of when and not if fans would learn that the two sides had come to terms on an agreement. It turns out Cook had millions of reasons to suit up on Aug. 12. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday morning that Cook has received a four-year, $48M contract extension that includes $30M guaranteed from the Bills. According to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN, the $30M guarantee is the most handed to a running back over the past five years. Cook was in the final year of his rookie deal and stopped participating in training-camp practices as part of a hold-in earlier in August. However, his agent later insisted that the 25-year-old "only wants to be a Buffalo Bill" and would continue "working toward" a resolution through the preseason. Last week, Buffalo quarterback and reigning regular-season Most Valuable Player Josh Allen directly said that he "desperately" wanted to have Cook back on the practice field and in the lineup. That's understandable considering what's expected of the 2025 Bills. As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook continued to list the Bills and Baltimore Ravens as the co-favorites at +600 betting odds to win Super Bowl LX this coming February. Meanwhile, Cook was responsible for the ninth-most regular-season rushing yards (2,131) in the league over the past two campaigns. He, Ravens star Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns each last season. In the end, trading Cook for a future draft asset never made much sense for a Bills team that is looking to do more than simply qualify for the next postseason tournament. "James could only envision himself as a Buffalo Bill," agent Zac Hiller told Schefter. "We are extremely thankful to the entire Bills organization and glad we could make that happen." With the Cook saga now behind them, the Bills can fully focus on preparing for their Week 1 "Sunday Night Football" showdown with the Ravens that will take place at Buffalo's Highmark Stadium on Sept. 7.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
