The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a potentially important roster move ahead of the Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, elevating an underrated DB from the practice squad.
According to the Steelers' official website, the team has elevated defensive back Doneiko Slaughter from the practice squad to the active/inactive roster for the Week 1 matchup against the Falcons.
We have elevated DB Doneiko Slaughter to the Active/Inactive Roster from the Practice Squad. @BordasLaw https://t.co/p7UGWRcdsW
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 12, 2026
Slaughter, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2025, has yet to make his NFL debut. He signed a reserve/futures contract with the Steelers in January 2026 and looked terrific throughout training camp and preseason.
Slaughter offers the Steelers important versatility, capable of playing either safety or cornerback on defense, in addition to his presence as a solid special teamer.
The move may be related to the availability of cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (back), who was listed as questionable for the Week 1 matchup against the Falcons. If Porter doesn't suit up on Sunday, whether that's related to his injury or contract situation, the Steelers may have wanted to shore up their cornerback depth for the season opener by elevating Slaughter.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers make roster move before Week 1 matchup vs. Falcons
