The Pittsburgh Steelers have released running back Jonathan Ward , the team announced on Thursday.
Ward was in a competitive group of depth running backs throughout OTAs that also included veterans Trey Sermon and Evan Hull , and appeared to be in shape to compete for a spot on the practice squad once again at training camp.
Ward first joined the Steelers as a veteran tryout to rookie minicamp in 2024. He earned a contract , and spent the entire 2024 season with the Steelers, bouncing back and forth between the practice squad and the active roster.
In four games last season, he run five times for 22 yards. He also had two tackles on special teams.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jonathan Ward at practice on Oct. 25, 2024. — Ed Thomson / Steelers Now
Ward is a 6-foot, 202-pound running back rom Kankakee, Illinois. A Central Michigan alum, he started his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Ward played in 14 games as a rookie, mostly on special teams, and then another 13 games in Arizona in 2021, when he saw his first real offensive action, rushing for 33 yards on nine carries and catching three of four targets for 34 yards.
In 2022, Ward played five games with Arizona, all on special teams, before a hamstring injury forced him to the injured reserve list. He was then released, and spent some time on the New York Jets practice squad before catching on with the Tennessee Titans .
With Tennessee, Ward played in three games in 2022 rushing five times for 25 yards and catching two of three passes for seven yards while again playing a significant role on special teams. He bounced between the Titans practice squad and active roster in 2023, playing in seven games, again mostly on special teams. He totaled just 11 yards on three carries while on offense.
There was no corresponding move to Ward's release announced. The Steelers now have two vacant slots on their 90-man offseason roster.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Release Versatile, Veteran Running Back
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