Steelers may be eyeing reunion no one saw coming after James Pierre cut

Veteran special teamer and wide receiver Miles Boykin is not going to jump off on paper to anyone, but he played a crucial role for the Steelers during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He spent the entire 2024 season on the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad and did not make the Chicago Bears' 53-man roster in 2025. While it may seem as if Boykin has been around a while, he is only 28 and could serve as Pierre's replacement immediately.

Sometimes the best and most reasonable signings aren't the sexy ones, and Boykin coming back to play in the Steel City would qualify as such. The Steelers made an interesting move by cutting Cameron Johnston and retaining Corliss Waitman, which is why consistency on the punting unit will be crucial. Boykin provides a sense of familiarity, and the team knows he can get the job done.

Additionally, as of now, Pittsburgh has only kept five wide receivers on the roster. If the goal is to have a sixth that is capable if his number is called upon, Boykin can act as such while primarily focusing on special teams. The dots do connect if general manager Omar Khan is interested in bringing back a player that many would have liked to see return in 2024.

In an AFC that is packed with talented offenses, flipping the field when punting is an underrated part of each game. The main job relies on the punter, but the gunners on the outsides are almost just as important. With Pierre gone, there is a window for Boykin to step in.

Pittsburgh isn't necessarily the most talented team in the AFC, or even the AFC North division. This is why it will be pivotal to win as many snaps as possible, even when it's just the special teams unit on the field. Releasing Pierre, who was very reliable in one specific area, is not something the team would do without a plan. After Boykin's release, it's feasible to assume Khan could be calling the wide receiver's camp.