The Steelers signed 16 players to their practice squad on Wednesday, all of who were with the team during training camp and the preseason.
Practice squad by position:
Defensive Back (5): Beanie Bishop, Sebastian Castro, D'Shawn Jamison, James Pierre, Daryl Porter
Defensive Line (2): Kyler Baugh, DeMarvin Leal
Linebacker (1): Julius Welschof
Offensive Line (2): Dylan Cook, Steven Jones
Running Back (2): Lew Nichols, Trey Sermon
Tight End (1): JJ Galbreath
Wide Receiver (3): Max Hurleman, Ke'Shawn Williams, Robert Woods
Learn more about the Steelers 2025 practice squad (listed alphabetically).
Defensive tackle Kyler Baugh: Baugh was originally signed by the Steelers during training camp. Baugh entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with New Orleans Saints following the 2024 NFL Draft. He also spent time with the New York Giants and on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad. Baugh played two seasons at the University of Minnesota, appearing in 26 games. He recorded 77 tackles, seven tackles for a loss and four sacks. He also added four passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He began his college career at Houston Baptist where he appeared in 26 games, starting 18. He finished with 104 career tackles, including 10 tackles for a loss and five sacks.
Defensive back Beanie Bishop Jr.: Bishop originally signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. Bishop beat the odds, making the Steelers 53-man roster in 2024. He played in all 17 regular season games last season, starting six of them, as well as playing in the Steelers Wild Card game. Bishop finished the 2024 season second on the team with four interceptions, while adding 39 tackles, 25 of them solo stops, seven passes defensed, two tackles for a loss and one fumble recovery. Three of those four interceptions Bishop had on the season came in October, when he was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month with three interceptions in two games. Bishop college football for one season at West Virginia, recording 67 tackles, 54 of them solo stops, and four interceptions while starting 13 games. He earned first team All-American honors (Walter Camp and FWAA) and second team All-American honors (Associated Press, Sporting News, AFCA). He was also selected All-Big 12 Conference first team. Bishop spent his first four seasons at Western Kentucky.
Safety Sebastian Castro: Castro originally signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft. Castro appeared in 53 games for the Hawkeyes, starting 32. He finished his career with 163 tackles, including 113 solo tackles. He had 14 tackles for a loss, 18 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, four interceptions and two sacks.
Offensive tackle Dylan Cook: Cook was signed to a Reserve/Future contract following the 2024 season. Cook spent part of the 2024 season on the Steelers Reserve/Injured (Designated for Return) List and the team's practice s quad. Cook spent the 2023 season on the 53-man roster, but didn't see any game action. Cook entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent the 2022 season on Tampa's practice squad. He played college football at Montana where he appeared in 27 games, starting 23 of them, and was a two-time Academic All-Big Sky selection.
Tight end J.J. Galbreath: Galbreath originally signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft. Galbreath appeared in 45 games for South Dakota, pulling in 93 receptions for 1,355 yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2024, he appeared in 10 games, finishing with 32 receptions for 469 yards and four touchdowns. He was named first team Associated Press All-American and first team All-Conference. In addition, he was a third team Phil Steele All-American.
Receiver Max Hurleman: Hurleman was signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent following a tryout during rookie minicamp in 2025. Hurleman appeared in 51 games in five college seasons, starting 23. He had 194 carries for 814 yards and one touchdown. He also is hailed for his punt return ability, returning 49 punts for 353 yards, a 7.2-yard average. Hurleman spent his first four seasons at Colegate University before transferring to Notre Dame in 2024 where he played mainly on special teams.
Defensive back D'Shawn Jamison: Jamison was signed to a Reserve/Future contract at the end of the 2024 season and spent training camp and the preseason with the team in 2025. Jamison spent time on the Steelers practice squad during the 2024 season. Jamison originally signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. He was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers and appeared in 15 games for the Panthers in 2023, starting two. He finished the season with five tackles, three of them solo stops, and one pass defensed. Jamison played college football at the University of Texas where he appeared in 60 games, starting 40 of them. He recorded 139 tackles, 109 of them solo stops, six tackles for a loss, 23 passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, one sack and one forced fumble.
Offensive lineman Steven Jones: Jones was signed to a Reserve/Future contract following the 2024 season and spent the 2025 preseason with the team. Jones originally signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon where he started all 14 games his senior season at right guard for an offensive line that led the nation with just five sacks allowed for the second year in a row.
Defensive lineman De'Marvin Leal: Leal was drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In three seasons, he appeared in 28 games, starting five of them. He has recorded 31 tackles, 18 of them solo stops, four passes defensed, three tackles for a loss and one sack. Leal appeared in five games in 2024, but missed the majority of the season dealing with injuries. Leal appeared in 12 games in 2023, starting four, and recorded 15 tackles, five of them solo stops, two quarterback hits, two tackles for a loss and a sack. His rookie season in 2022 he appeared in 11 games, with two started. He registered 14 tackles, eight of them solo stops, three passes defensed and a tackle for a loss.
Running back Lew Nichols: Nichols signed with the Steelers during training camp in 2025. Nichols was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, spending most of the season on the Reserve/Injured List. He has since spent time on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad. Nichols played college football at Central Michigan where he rushed for 1,710 yards in 2021, leading the nation. He was the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2021.
Defensive back James Pierre: Pierre was signed to a one-year contract in March, staying with the team where his career began. Pierre returned to the Steelers for a second stint in 2024, signed to the practice squad in September after his release from the Washington Commanders and then elevated to the 53-man roster one week later. He appeared in 15 games in 2024, starting two, and recorded 12 tackles, eight of them solo stops, and one interception, occurring against the Cleveland Browns to close out the game in a 27-14 win at Acrisure Stadium in Week 14. Pierre was originally signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft out of Florida Atlantic. He has appeared in 81 career games, with eight starts in four seasons. He has recorded 71 tackles, including 60 solo stops, 11 passes defensed, three interceptions and a forced fumble. He also has 46 special teams tackles. Pierre saw action in 16 games in 2023, mainly on special teams. He had seven special teams tackles, five of them solo stops. Pierre appeared in 17 games in 2022, starting two of them. He finished the year with 20 tackles, including 16 solo stops, had four passes defensed and an interception against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12. In 2021, Pierre played in 17 games with four starts. He recorded 37 tackles, 34 of them solo stops, and had one interception. He made the initial 53-man roster his rookie season and played in all 16 games.
Defensive back Daryl Porter: Porter joined the Steelers during training camp in 2025. Porter, the son of former NFL defensive back Daryl Porter Sr., was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft. He was released during training camp. Porter began his college career at West Virginia, before transferring to Miami where he was a two-year starter. He recorded 108 tackles during his college career, as well as 18 passes defensed, 10 of them during his time at Miami, and one interception.
Running back Trey Sermon: Sermon was signed following a tryout during the Steelers rookie minicamp this year, but brought experience with him. Sermon has appeared in 42 games, starting five, over four seasons. He carried the ball 134 times for 505 yards and three touchdowns. He spent the last two years with the Indianapolis Colts, appearing in 31 games, with three starts. He had 91 carries for 319 yards and two touchdowns. He spent the 2022 season with the Philadelphia Eagles and 2021 with the San Francisco 49ers.
Linebacker Julius Welschof: Welschof was signed to a Reserve/Future contract following the 2024 season and spent the 2025 preseason with the team. Welschof was originally signed by the team as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft and spent time on the practice squad during the season. He started at defensive end for Charlotte but had his 2023 season cut short due to injury, playing in four games. He began his career at Michigan where he played in 35 games. In 2022 he played in all 14 games. He is from Miesbach, Bavaria, Germany.
Wide receiver Ke'Shawn Williams: Williams originally signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft. Williams played in 59 games during his college career, starting 11 of them in his career. Williams has 2,640 all-purpose yards, including 1,833 receiving. He spent the 2024 season at Indiana where he played in 13 games with 39 receptions for 448 yards and five touchdowns. Williams spent four seasons at Wake Forest before transferring to Indiana.
Wide receiver Robert Woods: Woods was signed as an unrestricted free agent during the offseason. Woods, who will be entering his 13th season in the NFL, has appeared in 171 games, with 145 starts. He has 683 receptions for 8,233 yards, a 12.1-yard average, and 38 touchdowns. He also has 75 rushing attempts for 514 yards and five touchdowns. Woods is the fourth active player in the NFL with at least 7,500 career receiving yards to catch a touchdown pass with at least four different teams. Woods spent the last two seasons (2023-24) with the Houston Texans, appearing in 29 games, with 15 starts. He had 60 receptions for 629 yards, a 10.5-yard average, and one touchdown. Prior to his time with the Texans, he spent one season with the Tennessee Titans (2022). He started 15 of 17 games played, pulling in 53 receptions for 527 yards, a 9.9-yard average, and two touchdowns. Woods spent five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams (2017-2021), where he had his most productive time. He started 67 of 68 games he played in, finishing with 367 receptions for 4,626 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has two 1,000-yard seasons with the Rams, finishing with 1,134 yards in 2019 and a career-high 1,219 yards in 2018. Woods was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, the 41st overall selection. He spent four seasons with the Bills (2013-16), appearing in 57 games, with 48 starts. He had 203 receptions for 2,451 yards and 12 touchdowns.
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