Eli

Rogers

Rogers was nontendered by the Steelers after January ACL surgery. He has visits lined up with the Chiefs, Browns, and Raiders and expects to sign soon. Rogers is ahead of schedule in his recovery but will be a candidate for the PUP list wherever he lands.

Rogers, who was among the Steelers’ final cuts this summer, worked out for Miami last month but obviously didn’t end up signing there. He’d be somewhat of a redundancy with slot receivers Kenny Stills and Keke Coutee already in tow, though Stills could play outside in a pinch as he did in Sunday’s loss to Indianapolis. The fact Houston is taking a look at Rogers suggests the Texans expect Will Fuller (hamstring) to miss time.

The Dolphins have one of the worst receiver groups in the league, so this would be a decent landing spot for Rogers. A knee injury limited Rogers to three games last season, but he has started 15 games in his career and is only 27 years old.

Rogers was limited to three games by a knee injury last season. Also waived/released were QB Devlin Hodges, RB Trey Edmunds, RB Travon McMillian, RB Malik Williams, WR Trey Griffey, WR Johnny Holton, WR Tevin Jones, WR Brandon Reilly, WR Diontae Spencer, TE Micky Crum, TE Kevin Rader, TE Christian Scotland-Williamson, TE Trevor Wood, OL Garrett Brumfield, OL J.C. Hassenauer, OL Patrick Morris, OL Damian Prince, DB Marcus Allen, DB Dravon Askew-Henry, DB Marcelis Branch, DB Jhavonte Dean, DB P.J. Locke, DB Trevon Mathis, LB Jayrone Elliott, LB Christian Kuntz, LB Tegray Scales, LB Robert Spillane, DL Winston Craig, DL Greg Gilmore, DL Henry Mondeaux, DL Casey Sayles, DL Conor Sheehy, K Matthew Wright and P Ian Berryman.

Switzer was ineffective as the Steelers’ No. 3/4 wideout last season, but Rogers missed most of the year as he recovered from a torn ACL. Rogers did catch seven passes in Week 17 with Antonio Brown on the sideline. This one will probably be settled in camp.

Rogers was sidelined for most of 2018 after tearing his ACL in the previous playoffs, catching 12 passes for 79 yards in three games. This deal will give him a chance to rehab his value in a receiver corps which remains in flux following the Antonio Brown trade.

He also ran once for a loss of four yards. With Antonio Brown (knee) out and the Bengals selling out to stop JuJu Smith-Schuster, Rogers enjoyed one of his better weeks, setting season-marks in both catches and receiving yards while logging his most targets since Week 9 of his debut season in 2016. Rogers missed most of the year with a knee injury, though he flashed when healthy and could return to Pittsburgh as a depth option in 2019. The 25-year-old will enter free agency this offseason.

Pro Football Focus charted Rogers as playing 28 snaps. He was heavily involved early, catching two his four passes on the Steelers’ opening drive. Rogers will mix in down the stretch and in the playoffs, but 4/20 could easily end up his production high-water mark.

Rogers practiced with the first-team offense with Ryan Switer (ankle) limited this week. He’ll add another option behind Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster and is an immediate threat to James Washington’s playing time. The Steelers activating Rogers is a sign they don’t expect to have Switzer against the Patriots.

It means Rogers will miss at least the first six games of the season. Rogers will also technically serve a one-game suspension in Week 1. Recovering from a Divisional Round ACL tear, Rogers will return as the No. 4 or 5 receiver.