Steelers add former Rams, Titans kicker Sam Sloman to offseason roster

Jul. 1—Ben Roethlisberger won't be the only player from Miami (Ohio) on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster this summer.

The Steelers have agreed to terms former RedHawks kicker Sam Sloman, agent Joe Linta confirmed Thursday.

The NFL Network first reported the Steelers' interest in signing Sloman.

Adding Sloman gives the Steelers a second kicker on the offseason roster. Veteran kicker Chris Boswell previously was the only player on the 90-man roster without competition.

To make room on the roster for Sloman, the Steelers gave a waived/injured designation to defensive lineman Demarcus Christmas.

A three-year starting kicker at Miami, the 5-foot-8, 205-pound Sloman converted 26 of 30 field goals as a senior, including 4 of 5 from at least 50 yards. Linta arranged a tryout for Sloman after the NFL Combine, and the Los Angeles Rams selected him in the seventh round of the 2020 draft.

Sloman won the kicking job in training camp but was released after seven games. He made 8 of 11 field goals and 18 of 21 extra points and also had two extra points and a 48-yard attempt blocked.

Sloman joined the Tennessee Titans practice squad and was promoted to the active roster for Week 17.

He made all five extra points and two field goals, including a winning 37-yarder as time expired, to help the Titans win the AFC South with a 41-38 victory against Houston.

"Sam had a pretty good run," Linta said. "I was shocked Tennessee didn't bring him back, frankly."

The roster move could be insurance against another injury to Boswell, who missed three games late in the 2020 season because of hip and groin issues. Boswell returned for the AFC wild-card playoff loss to Cleveland, kicking a 49-yard field goal in his only try and making both extra-point attempts in the 48-37 defeat to the Browns.

Matthew Wright was promoted from the practice squad and replaced Boswell in all three instances. Although Wright made all four field goals and seven extra points, he was not brought back after the season because he lacked the leg strength to put kickoffs into the end zone.

Boswell made 19 of 20 field goals last season, kicking a career-best 59-yarder at Dallas. He converted 34 of 38 extra points.

Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe by email at jrutter@triblive.com or via Twitter .