Steelers roster spotlight: Is Dean Lowry fighting for his roster spot?

Pittsburgh Steelers veteran defensive tackle Dean Lowry brings over 130 games of experience to the roster, but is it enough to secure a spot on the 53-man squad?

From now until the start of the regular season, we at Steelers Wire will be analyzing every player on the roster. Here’s a look at Lowry and what could be in store for his 2026 season.

Lowry, who played seven seasons for the Green Bay Packers (2016-2022) and one for the Minnesota Vikings (2023), joined the Steelers on a two-year deal in April 2024. He appeared in 12 games during his debut season with Pittsburgh.

The next year, however, Lowry unfortunately suffered a torn ACL during training camp and missed the entire 2025 season. He re-signed with the Steelers on a one-year contract in May 2026.

Lowry quietly emerged as one of the top backup defensive linemen in the league. But it’s difficult to imagine the Steelers giving him a spot on the 53-man roster over young, promising talent like Yahya Black or Gabriel Rubio. Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Sebastian Joseph-Day, and Derrick Harmon are near-locks, which means Lowry could be viewed more as a viable practice squad addition.

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