The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed tight end Lake McRee to their practice squad , the team announced on Monday.
McRee joined Pittsburgh as an undrafted rookie free agent out of USC following the 2026 NFL Draft. He entered training camp with an opportunity to compete for a roster spot behind Pat Freiermuth , Darnell Washington and Robert Tonyan .
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end made a strong impression during the preseason, including a memorable touchdown in the Steelers' preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills . McRee caught a pass from Will Howard and powered his way into the end zone for a five-yard touchdown.
"I just saw some window. I had the ball and was close to the end zone, so I just dove and hoped for the best," McRee said afterward.
McRee hopes that his steadfast approach has gained him some respect from the Steelers.
"Just being consistent every day," McRee said. "I don't what day's going to be my last, so that's exactly how I show up to work every day and try to leave it all out on the field."
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Lake McRee at OTAs on May 20, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
That performance made his roster decision particularly interesting, but Pittsburgh ultimately decided there wasn't enough room to keep the rookie on the initial 53-man roster. He'll instead continue to develop on the practice squad.
McRee had a productive college career, appearing in 51 games and finishing with 97 receptions for 1,154 yards and seven touchdowns. In his final season at USC, he recorded 30 receptions for 450 yards and four touchdowns. According to Pro Football Focus, McRee only had two drops during his Trojans tenure.
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