Steelers decide Darnell Savage Jr.’s fate amid training camp

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a surprising roster move Sunday, releasing veteran safety Darnell Savage Jr. to accommodate the signing of experienced defensive back Rayshawn Jenkins. The transaction came one week into training camp, with Savage’s departure creating the roster spot needed to complete Jenkins’ arrival.

Savage’s tenure in Pittsburgh was short-lived. Although the two sides reached an agreement shortly after free agency opened, his signing was delayed for several months because he was working through an undisclosed lower-body medical issue. He eventually signed a one-year contract before OTAs, participated in offseason workouts and entered training camp competing for a huge defensive role.

During the opening days at St. Vincent College, Savage worked extensively with the first-team defense alongside Jaquan Brisker while DeShon Elliott continued recovering from the hamstring injury that ended his 2025 season. He impressed early, making several positive plays and receiving plenty of first-team repetitions. However, Savage did not participate in team drills on Friday or Saturday before being released, with Jack Henderson and rookie Robert Spears-Jennings taking his place in practice.

The Steelers safety group now features Elliott, Brisker, Jenkins, Sebastian Castro and Spears-Jennings. The team also expects Jalen Ramsey to contribute at safety in addition to cornerback once he returns from his knee injury.

Jenkins, 32, joins Pittsburgh after spending the 2025 season with the Cleveland Browns. He appeared in all 17 games, making three starts while recording 45 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defended. The former fourth-round pick entered the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017 before later playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks and Browns.

Savage, the No. 21 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, has also spent time with the Jaguars, Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills. He played for three teams during the 2025 season, appearing in two games with Jacksonville, eight with Washington and two with Buffalo after starting 13 games for Jacksonville in 2024.

Across 97 career NFL games, including 83 starts, Savage has accumulated 371 tackles, 275 solo tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 41 passes defended, three forced fumbles, three quarterback hits and one interception returned for a touchdown. His release leaves the Steelers with a $187,500 dead-cap charge that can be spread across the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

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