On Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers released wide receiver Derek Moye from their practice squad. While that’s not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, the move did signify that the team still likes the upside of the wide receiver that they chose to keep over Moye, undrafted rookie free agent C.J. Goodwin.
Goodwin, as many of you probably remember, was signed back in June after Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount recommended that the Steelers work him out.
Even though he battled a shoulder injury during training camp and failed to play a single snap during the preseason, the Steelers still decided to sign him to their 10-man practice squad to start the season. At that time I labeled that decision as being a “charity case”, but now that he is survived the first major practice squad shake-up of the season, I am obligated to retract that opinion.
We still don’t know much of anything about the California University product that caught all of 11 passes for 131 yards and one touchdown during his senior season, but the Steelers have now had him on their practice squad long enough to see all of his warts and possible upside.
Will Goodwin ever turn out to be more than just a practice squad player for the Steelers? Right now it’s hard to tell, but the longer he sticks around, the better chance he’ll have at being a contributor down the road in some form or fashion.
With Moye now gone, Goodwin is technically one injury away from possibly being promoted to the 53 man roster if he can also contribute on special teams. That in and of itself deserves some recognition and especially from me.
