Steelers Waive Promising Young Offensive Lineman

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released second-year guard Joey Fisher, the team announced on Tuesday.

Fisher, 24, spent most of last season on the Steelers’ practice squad and appears to be in consideration to be signed there again this season. Teams can begin signing players to the practice squad after waivers process at noon on Wednesday.

A 6-foot-4, 296-pound native of Hagerstown, Maryland, Fisher attended Division II Shepherd University, where he was a three-time All-PSAC selection. The Rams finished second, second and first in the PSAC East in his three seasons. In 2021 and 2022, they made it all the way to the NCAA Division II semifinals.

An injury in the pre-draft process held Fisher back from attending the Senior Bowl, and he first joined the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent last spring. He was waived by the 49ers after training camp and caught on with the Steelers practice squad. Pittsburgh released him on Nov. 14 and Fisher signed with the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 13, closing out the 2023 season with the Steelers’ divisional rival. In January, he re-signed with the Steelers on a future contract for 2024.

In three preseason games with the Steelers, Fisher played 58 snaps, with 52 coming at right guard and six coming at left guard, per Pro Football Focus. Fisher has shown excellent agility for a big offensive lineman and specializes in run blocking, pulling and screens.

The Steelers are extremely deep at guard, with starters Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels backstopped by 2023 seventh-round pick Spencer Anderson and 2024 fourth-round pick Mason McCormick.