The **Pittsburgh Steelers** continued their late‑August roster purge by letting go of **12 additional players on Monday, August 25, 2025**, as they worked to trim down to the NFL’s mandatory **53‑man roster** ahead of the regular season opener against the New York Jets ([Behind the Steel Curtain][1]).
Among those released, punter **Jordan Johnston** stood out as a surprising cut—he had performed well in camp, yet ultimately lost his job to **Corliss Waitman**, who will now handle punting duties ([Behind the Steel Curtain][1]). Also among the cuts was kicker **Ben Sauls**, who will likely attract interest from teams in need of a placekicker ([Behind the Steel Curtain][1]).
On the defensive side, linebacker **Max (or Mark) Hurleman** showed promise during training camp. The team hopes he’ll clear waivers so he can be added to the **practice squad** ([Behind the Steel Curtain][1]). Meanwhile, running back **Lew Nichols** also showed potential but may get snapped up by other teams before Pittsburgh has the opportunity to bring him back on their practice unit ([Behind the Steel Curtain][1]).
This roster move is part of a broader wave of reductions following other notable cuts earlier in camp—**11 players were released last Friday**, and more waivers came on **Tuesday, August 26**, including **DeMarvin Leal**, **Beanie Bishop Jr.**, **Chuck Clark**, **Sebastian Castro**, **Robert Woods**, **Trey Sermon**, and others ([Behind the Steel Curtain][2]). Those moves finalized the Steelers’ 53‑man roster for the upcoming season.
**Contextually**, this latest round of waivers underscores the depth of decision-making faced by Pittsburgh’s front office and coaching staff. Special teams battles—especially at punter and kicker—remain hotly contested, and fringe roster players like Hurleman and Nichols are walking the tightrope of making the active roster or settling for the practice squad.
In short, the release of these 12 players reflects both strategic positioning (favoring players like Waitman) and ongoing evaluation of developmental prospects. It also highlights the uncertainty faced by those on the bubble—as teams across the league enter the final stretch of preseason, careers can quickly pivot depending on how roster slots shake out.
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* [Behind the Steel Curtain](https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-news/157358/pittsburgh-steelers-release-12-players-on-monday?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [Behind the Steel Curtain](https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-news/157386/steelers-demarvin-leal-cut-released-cutdown-day-nfl-53-man-roster-practice-squad-news?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
[1]: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-news/157358/pittsburgh-steelers-release-12-players-on-monday?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Steelers release 12 players on Monday”
[2]: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-news/157386/steelers-demarvin-leal-cut-released-cutdown-day-nfl-53-man-roster-practice-squad-news?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Steelers release DE DeMarvin Leal”
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