Steelers Rumors: Former Cowboys WR Simi Fehoko to join practice squad
The Pittsburgh Steelers added former Cowboys WR Simi Fehoko to the practice squad on Wednesday, the team announced (h/t Sports Illustrated). The 25-year-old posted a photo on his Instagram story from the Pittsburgh airport before taking to Twitter with a blatant Steelers reference.
Fehoko was a fifth-round pick to the Cowboys in 2021 out of Stanford. He has appeared in 10 NFL games across two seasons with only three catches for 24 yards. He's a strong, physical pass-catcher at 6-foot-3 and 222 pounds. In three college seasons with the Cardinal, he accumulated 62 receptions for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns.
Simi happens to be the cousin of Steelers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko. It's a family affair now in Pittsburgh. The Steelers currently have six wide receivers on the 53-man roster — Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Allen Robinson II, Calvin Austin III, Miles Boykin, and Gunner Olszewski. Fehoko faces an uphill battle for a potential future roster spot.
Fehoko's size and strength does give him a unique edge, however, and the could be a situational need that arises. The Cowboys never gave him much of a shot, but a fresh start could be all he needs to find his NFL niche.
The Steelers will continue to place absolute faith in second-year QB Kenny Pickett. The offense has potent potential under Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
Steelers Rumors: Kevin Dotson outlines his perceived reputation in Pittsburgh
The Steelers traded OL Kevin Dotson to the Los Angeles Rams ahead of Tuesday's roster deadline. The deal involved 2023 and 2024 pick swaps, with Pittsburgh continuing to make hard decisions on the offensive line. Omar Khan and the front office also traded Kendrick Green to the Houston Texans.
After a hectic deadline day and a cross-country move, Dotson is excited to play for the Rams.
"It's a new opportunity," he said at his first Rams practice. "I like the team, I like my O-line group, so I feel like it's going to come all together."
He should face less competition for snaps in Los Angeles. The Steelers beefed up the offensive line in a big way over the summer, selecting UGA's Broderick Jones in the first round of April's NFL Draft and signing Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig as free agents. Dotson started all 17 games for the Steelers last season, but his exodus makes room for Pittsburgh's fresh faces.
Dotson also spoke about his relationship with the Steelers organization and what Los Angeles should expect from him, as a player and a person.
"I'm a really team player," he said. "Everyone on the Steelers, they'll vouch for me knowing I'm a good guy, so I just try to bring that energy here too."
He's very confident that he will find success with the Rams.
"I know what I'm capable of. I knew the Steelers knew what I was capable of, but, ya know, it's a business, you gotta do what you have to do to be great so they did what they had to do."
Dotson's reputation was mixed in Pittsburgh after three-odd seasons on the O-line, most of which he spent as a starter. The Rams offer him a clean slate and the chance to protect Matthew Stafford in an offense that won the Super Bowl in 2022.
Steelers Rumors: Kendrick Green could get swift revenge in Week 4
The Steelers shipped Kendrick Green to the Houston Texans for a sixth-round pick prior to Tuesday's roster cut deadline. The move came as a surprise to many. Green felt destined for the cutting room floor in Pittsburgh, so the Texans giving up draft capital to get him left more than a few fans scratching their heads.
A recent update from Houston, however, does further illuminate the thought process of Texans GM Nick Caserio. The Texans placed center Juice Scruggs on the injured reserve on Thursday, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. He will miss at least four weeks as a result.
That immediately elevates Kendrick Green to the starting center job. He's going to spend at least the first month of the season snapping to Texans rookie C.J. Stroud. As fate would have it, the Texans host the Steelers in Week 4. There's reason to believe Green will be in the starting lineup when Pittsburgh comes to town.
Green was a lightning rod for criticism with the Steelers. He earned some of it, to be fair, but Mike Tomlin bluntly called him "not good enough" after the Steelers' preseason loss to Buffalo. Meanwhile, franchise legend Ben Roethlisberger went out of his way to disrespect the former third-round pick earlier in the summer.
One has to imagine Green felt unwanted and unappreciated in Pittsburgh. That's the nature of the business, but it's tough on a human level. He will get his chance for revenge, though, and the stage is set rather perfectly. We will see if Green can deliver with a rookie QB in the pocket.
