Just-released Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman signs with Miami Dolphins

Team Aina offensive lineman Anderson Hardy (59), of Appalachian State, watches from the sideline during the first half of the Hula Bowl NCAA college football game against Team Kai, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)AP

Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Anderson Hardy, who was recently released by the team in the cut downs to 53 players, has signed with the Miami Dolphins. He will join Miami’s practice squad, a soft landing for Hardy, who was released in the first wave of cuts the Steelers conducted after their final game against the Detroit Lions.

Hardy signed with the Steelers as a reserve/future contract back in January. He played both tackle and guard over the summer for the Steelers but failed to impress enough to earn a spot on the team’s practice squad. Instead, the Steelers went outside the organization and signed Doug Nester and John Leglue to their practice squad while keeping nine offensive linemen.

Hardy, an undrafted free agent in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Appalachian State, had a stint with the Kansas City Chiefs before joining the Steelers this January. He failed to make that roster, but hung around the team’s practice squad before inking a deal with the Steelers.

Meanwhile, the Steelers have filled up their entire practice squad with 16 players. Other players that the Steelers could have been interested in bringing back, such as Kyron Johnson and Dez Fitzpatrick, will likely end up heading to other teams moving forward. For example, the Steelers lost do-it-all weapon John Rhys Plumlee to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but that is just the NFL practice squad carousel working.