The Pittsburgh Steelers released safety Rayshawn Jenkins on Wednesday, ending a short stay that began on August 1. Jenkins had been on the field for every one of the team’s six games this season, but his role had already slid backward before the roster move became official.
That is why the move is drawing attention now. Jenkins had signed after the Steelers released Darnell Savage, and he still managed 16 tackles in six games, enough production to suggest he could hold a place on the roster. Instead, the Steelers chose to move on as they head toward Sunday.
The timing points to a larger shift at safety. DeShon Elliott missed the first six games with a knee injury and began the season on IR, but the Steelers opened his activation window on October 8. That leaves Jenkins as the player who lost ground while Elliott moved closer to a return.
Jenkins’ release also sharpens the focus on what comes next for the Steelers’ secondary. The team will face the New Orleans Saints in Paris on Sunday, the first NFL game ever played in Paris, and the safety depth chart could look different by then if Elliott is activated. What is clear now is that Jenkins, who arrived only weeks ago, was the first player squeezed out by the return path at the position.
