Steelers Add Former Third-Round Pick to Roster
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed DeMarvin Leal, a former third-round pick, to their active roster ahead of their Week 3 matchup with the New England Patriots. This move comes as the team deals with multiple injuries on the defensive side of the ball. 
Leal’s addition to the 53-man roster comes after defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk was placed on the reserve/injured list due to a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Leal, who was cut during final roster cuts in late August, re-signed with the Steelers’ practice squad. While he was not called up for the first two weeks of the season, his chance to see playing time has increased with Loudermilk out for at least four weeks. Additionally, the status of outside linebacker Alex Highsmith and defensive lineman Derrick Harmon for the upcoming game against the Patriots is still uncertain.
A third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft from Texas A&M, Leal showed versatility in his first three years with the Steelers, playing both on the interior defensive line and as an edge rusher. In his rookie season, he appeared in 11 games, starting two, and recorded 14 tackles. However, Pro Football Focus gave him a low 46.0 overall grade, noting only four pressures during his debut season.
In 2023, Leal played 12 games, logging a sack and 15 tackles, while taking 228 snaps. He saw 77 snaps in Pittsburgh’s first five games of 2024, but a neck injury suffered during a game against the Dallas Cowboys ended his season early.
This past summer, Leal transitioned to outside linebacker full-time but was unable to secure a roster spot, as the position already had established players like T.J. Watt, Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Jack Sawyer.
Now, with an opportunity ahead of him, Leal is poised to become an important reserve for the Steelers, who are in dire need of defensive depth.
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