Ken Griffey Jr.'s son, two 2017 draft picks signed to Steelers' 10-man practice squad
Two 2017 draft picks and the son of Ken Griffey Jr. are part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season-opening practice squad.
Outside linebacker Keion Adams and cornerback Brian Allen were seventh and fifth-round picks last year who did not make this season’s 53-man roster, which was announced Saturday. They earned spots Sunday on the 10-player practice squad.
Adams spent last season on injured reserve. He was beat out for the final outside linebacker spot this year by undrafted rookie Ola Adeniyi. The 6-foot-3 Allen was on the 53-man roster last season, becoming a special teams contributor by its end. But the Steelers had secondary depth by way of reliable veterans such as cornerback Coty Sensabaugh and youngsters such as safety Marcus Allen, whom they preferred to protect on their active roster.
Of the rest of the practice squad, the biggest name is a Hall of Fame one: Griffey. But this is not baseball, and Trey Griffey is the son of baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and the grandson of Donora native Ken Griffey Sr.
Griffey joins Tevin Jones as receivers on the practice squad behind the six who made the 53-man roster.
Also on the practice squad are running back Jarvion Franklin, tight end Bucky Hodges, defensive end Lavon Hooks, linebacker Farrington Huguenin, center Patrick Morris and offensive lineman R.J. Prince.
Hodges, a Virginia Tech product, is an intriguing prospect whom the Steelers signed two weeks into training camp. Hooks and Huguenin spent last season on the Steelers’ practice squad.
Former rugby star Christian Scotland-Williamson of Great Britain has an exemption to remain with the Steelers throughout the season as part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program.
Arguably, the biggest omission among eligible players for the practice squad is defensive lineman Joshua Frazier, who was drafted in the seventh round out of Alabama by the Steelers four months ago.
Other notable eligible players who spent camp with the Steelers but did not make the 53-man roster or practice squad are former Pitt players Quadree Henderson and Matt Galambos and former Duquesne offensive lineman Larson Graham. Henderson left Pitt early to declare for the NFL Draft but was not drafted.
Also, four players were waived/injured Saturday and conceivably could re-join the Steelers later in the season.
The expected arrival of running back Le’Veon Bell, who has yet to sign his franchise-player tender, would affect the composition of the Steelers’ roster. It’s also possible the Steelers will make further tweaks.
Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris at cadamski@tribweb.com or via Twitter @C_AdamskiTrib.
