Steelers Cut Ties with Veteran Cornerback

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released veteran cornerback Anthony Brown from their practice squad, just two weeks after signing him.

Brown, 29, was returning from a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered in Week 13 last year, and cost him the end of the 2022 season and has prevented him from working with a team throughout this summer.

He had been the starting cornerback in Dallas at the time of his injury. In his seven-year NFL career, Brown has played in 94 games and started 69, including 28 over the last two seasons for Dallas.

The 5-foot-11, 196-pound Brown has played both slot and outside corner in his career, though most of his recent work was outside. He played 591 of his 728 snaps outside in 2022 and 804 of his 1,046 there in 2021.

Brown’s health and ability to return to full capabilities after a serious injury were obviously question marks, and he had not been with any other team since his release by Dallas early this offseason. It was hoped he was healthy enough to return to form and represent a serious upgrade to the team’s outside cornerback depth, which took a major hit when rookie seventh-round pick Cory Trice was lost for the season with a knee injury.

Brown lasted just two weeks on the Steelers practice squad. Luq Barcoo, who had been released from that unit earlier in Week 2, replaced him on Thursday, but the team ended up with a vacancy on the 16-man squad in its series of moves on Thursday, with Cam Heyward placed on injured reserve, Dez Fitzpatrick called up to the active roster, Josiah Scott placed on the practice squad injured list and Barcoo and running back Greg Bell re-signed to the practice squad.