Despite filling their remaining roster spot on Sunday with the activation of defensive lineman Dean Lowry, the Steelers still took the time to work out four more players per NFL insider Aaron Wilson: offensive tackles Greg Eiland and Bobby Evans, and long snappers Jake McQuaide and Antonio Ortiz.
#Steelers worked out Greg Eiland, Bobby Evans, Jake McQuaide, Antonio Ortiz
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 11, 2024
The Steelers are also set to work out edge rusher Taylor Upshaw sometime in the future, also per Wilson.
Eiland played college football for LSU and later Mississippi State, where he spent his final season at right tackle, left tackle, and left guard over nine starts. The 6’8, 335-pound lineman signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2021, spending three seasons on and off the practice squad. He’s since spent time with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas.
Evans has the highest pedigree of any player in this article, drafted in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams out of Oklahoma. Evans also has versatility, starting a playoff game at left guard for L.A. despite being a tackle by trade. Across four seasons as a Ram, he amassed 35 games played and 12 starts. The 6’4, 312-pound lineman has since spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the XFL’s Arlington Renegades. He was recently named to the 2024 All-UFL team.
McQuaide is the most experienced and decorated player on the list. Drafted in 2011 by the then-St. Louis Rams, he made two Pro Bowls as the team’s long snapper in his 10-year stint with the Rams. He’s since spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. He’s struggled with injuries late in his career, not playing full seasons in 2022 and 2023. The 6’2, 247-pound specialist has 11 career tackles and has appeared in 190 career games.
Ortiz signed with the Chicago Bears as a UDFA in 2022. The 6’4, 247-pound long snapper was TCU’s starter in all four of his college seasons. He was most recently with the UFL’s Arlington Renegades.
As for Upshaw, he played college football at Michigan and Arizona. In 2023, his redshirt senior year, he recorded 31 total tackles and 8.5 sacks. An NFL.com scouting report from Lance Zierlein described Upshaw as a “physical edge defender who can play with a hand down or standing up. He never met a physical challenge he didn’t like and is equipped to do battle at the point of attack despite his average size.”
Upshaw has yet to sign with an NFL team. The 6’4, 262-pound defender is the son of former NFL first-round pick Regan Upshaw.
All five players could receive a phone call from Pittsburgh in the upcoming weeks, with a possible opening at offensive tackle due to the Troy Fautanu injury, and long snapper Christian Kuntz having a rough preseason debut. Upshaw brings the NFL bloodlines the Steelers always value.
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