Steelers Sign Former Titans Safety, Round Out Practice Squad

By announcing the signing of safety Bishop Fitzgerald on Wednesday, the Steelers have officially filled all 17 spots on their 2026 practice squad ahead of the regular season.

According to Steelers.com, the initial squad is as follows, with outside linebacker Julius Welschof filling the International Player Pathway Program exemption slot:

Steelers 2026 practice squad

1. DL Kyler Baugh
2. S Sebastian Castro
3. S Bishop Fitzgerald
4. RB Travis Homer
5. WR Max Hurleman
6. WR Brandon Johnson
7. OL Steven Jones
8. TE Lake McRee
9. OL Doug Nester
10. RB Lew Nichols 
11. DL Esezi Otomewo
12. CB Doneiko Slaughter
13. WR Brandon Smith
14. LB Bradyn Swinson
15. CB Car’lin Vigers
16. OLB Julius Welschof (International Player Pathway Program exemption)
17. LB Jacoby Windmon

Three players: Fitzgerald, Swinson and Vigers, are new to the Steelers organization.

Fitzgerald was an undrafted free agent in 2026, spending the summer with the Tennessee Titans. Playing college football at NC State and USC, Fitzgerald recorded his best collegiate seasons in 2025 with the Trojans, when he logged five interceptions alongside 51 total tackles.

The 5’11, 201-pound safety ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Pre-draft, NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein described Fitzgerald as a “compact, ballhawking safety prospect with alignment versatility,” noting he’s much better defending the pass than diagnosing the run.

Vigers went undrafted in 2025 out of UL Monroe, spending time on the Washington Commanders’ practice squad last season. In his final collegiate season in 2024, the 6’2, 200-pound corner logged 38 total tackles and one interception. He scored an 8.00 RAS with a reported 4.52-second 40-yard dash.

Swinson is the most interesting name of the bunch as a former fifth-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2025. He appeared in three games for the Patriots last season, recording one tackle. In his final collegiate season at LSU in 2024, he recorded 8.5 sacks along with 59 total tackles.

Zierlein described Swinson as a “late bloomer with big hands, long arms and a frame to carry more muscle” pre-draft, adding he’s “competitive at the point of attack, where he uses his length and footwork to beat the block or prevent block sustains.” Zierlein noted Swinson still needed to work on rushing strategies and improving quickness, but had the upside to be a starting outside linebacker in a 3-4.

Interestingly, the Steelers’ initial practice squad does not include the reported signing of former Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas. The planned deal was reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday, and seemingly confirmed by Thomas making a string of Steelers-related posts on X afterwards. For now, Thomas is not listed on Pittsburgh’s roster or practice squad.

Thomas reportedly visited with the Steelers Wednesday.