Steelers Announce Trade Ahead Of 2021 Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced another roster move ahead of the upcoming 2021 NFL season.

The Steelers have acquired cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a fifth-round 2023 NFL Draft pick, pending a physical, according to a news release shared on their official team website.

Witherspoon was initially acquired by Seattle as an unrestricted free agent during the 2021 offseason following four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

The former University Colorado standout was selected by San Francisco at No. 66 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Witherspoon has appeared in 47 games and made 33 starts, recording 116 tackles (98 solo), four interceptions, 24 passes defensed and one touchdown in 2019.

On Wednesday (September 1), the Steelers announced offensive lineman Zach Banner, running back Anthony McFarland Jr. and defensive end Stephon Tuitt have all been placed on the Reserved/Injured List, one day after cutting down to their mandatory 53-man roster.

Additionally, Pittsburgh brought back offensive linemen Rashaad Coward and B.J. Finney, as well as cornerback Arthur Maulet -- all of whom were released on Tuesday (August 31) -- with the open roster spots.

Along with Coward, Finney and Maulet, the Steelers announced 12 other players were released in an effort to limit their roster to the mandatory 53-player maximum:

1. RB Trey Edmunds
2. RB Jaylen Samuels
3. WR Rico Bussey
4. WR Cody White
5. OL Chaz Green
6. OL John Leglue
7. TE Kevin Rader
8. LB Cassius Marsh
9. LB Quincy Roche
10. LB Jamar Watson
11. DB Mark Gilbert
12. DB Donovan Stiner

The Steelers also placed backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs was placed on the reserve/injured list after experiencing an injury in the Steelers' preseason finale.

The decisions to release Berry and Canaday solidified spots on the Week 1 roster for rookie punter Pressley Havin III and long snapper Christian Kuntz, a Western Pennsylvania native and former Duquense standout linebacker.

Head coach Mike Tomlin addressed having to make roster cuts and how the process would be different from last year, when the Steelers had no preseason.

"It's always difficult. It's difficult whether you have games, it's difficult if you don't have games because you've just got a level of respect for what these guys put into this process," said Tomlin. "It's a culmination of a lot of work, not only dating back to the spring, but really all of their football lives, and so we're highly sensitive to that, we're respectful of that. Business has to get done but it gets done with that sensitivity and that understanding."

The Steelers shared a graphic listing their full 53-man roster by position group and numerical order on their verified Twitter account Tuesday.

The Steelers will face the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in their regular season opener on Sunday, September 12.