PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers trimmed their roster by 37 players on Saturday to reach the 53-man limit as mandated by the NFL.
The result: The team went big on youth and potential, depending on what happens on the waiver wire this weekend.
Most significant move: Go bold or go home. Landry Jones is gone after five seasons, leaving no NFL experience behind Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. But the Steelers drafted Joshua Dobbs and Mason Rudolph in consecutive drafts to develop them. They wouldn't make this move if they didn't feel good about Rudolph, this year's third-round rookie, as a No. 2 behind Roethlisberger.
Bell reinforcements: The Steelers aren't messing around at running back, keeping fifth-round back Jaylen Samuels and veteran Stevan Ridley -- who both ran hard all preseason -- behind No. 2 James Conner. This gives the Steelers options with Le'Veon Bell, who hasn't set a definitive report date yet. Ridley can help now, and Samuels is a skilled pass-catcher.
Another undrafted gem?: The Steelers have had success with undrafted players, and the next in line might be linebacker Matthew Thomas, a five-star recruit out of high school who had struggles at Florida State but runs a 4.58-second 40, which he showed off on a sack-fumble-fumble recovery that he took 75 yards Thursday against Carolina. Thomas also got a handful of snaps with the first team in a package called "Seminole." Linebacker Ola Adeniyi got the nod over last year's draft pick Keion Adams off the edge.
Steelers moves: Released: QB Landry Jones, P Matt Wile, WR Quadree Henderson, WR Tevin Jones, WR Trey Griffey, CB Jamar Summers, RB Fitz Toussaint, CB Dashaun Phillips, S Nat Berhe, CB Malik Reaves, CB Brian Allen, RB James Summers, RB Jarvion Franklin, LB Matt Galambos, LB Farrington Huguenin, LB Keion Adams, TE Christian Scotland-Williamson, C Oni Omoile, OT Larson Graham, DT Parker Cothren, DE Greg Gilmore, C Patrick Morris, OL R.J. Prince, DE Kendal Vickers, OT Jake Rodgers, DT Josh Frazier, G Chris Schleuger, DT Casey Sayles, TE Bucky Hodges, TE Pharoah McKever, DE Lavon Hooks. Waived/injured: Damoun Patterson, WR Marcus Tucker, OL Joseph Cheek, S Malik Golden, LB Keith Kelsey. Placed on reserve/physically unable to perform list: WR Eli Rogers