McHugh on IR; Redman is cut

Pittsburgh Steelers

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Running back Isaac Redman, a non-drafted rookie who was the surprise star of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ training camp, was among 21 players cut on Saturday.

Tight end Sean McHugh’s season ended when he was placed on the injured reserve list following arthroscopic knee surgery last week.

He becomes the second player from last season’s Super Bowl-winning team to have his season end prematurely, joining right guard Darnell Stapleton, who had knee surgery early in training camp.

The Steelers, who open the season Thursday against Tennessee, made their cuts Friday but declined to reveal them until Saturday. Coach Mike Tomlin didn’t want other NFL teams to learn of the moves a day before making their own cuts.

Redman, an undrafted rookie from Bowie State, scored three of the Steelers’ five touchdowns rushing during the preseason and had a team-leading 145 yards. He also was their top goal-line runner during camp and in the exhibition games.

However, Tomlin gave a big hint Friday that Redman wouldn’t be on the team when he didn’t mention him to reporters during a discussion of possible goal-line backs.

The Steelers will add Redman to their practice squad if he is not claimed on waivers.

Redman’s release cleared a roster spot for fifth-round pick Frank “The Tank” Summers, who was injured most of camp.

Summers did little to play his way onto the team, and Tomlin said last week the former UNLV player needed to show more. Summers had one carry for 4 yards against Carolina on Thursday.

Also released were: quarterback Mike Reilly; running backs Carey Davis and Justin Vincent; wide receivers Dallas Baker, Tyler Grisham and Brandon Williams; tight end Dezmond Sherrod; offensive linemen Jason Capizzi, Jeremy Parquet and A.Q. Shipley; defensive linemen Sonny Harris, Steve McClendon and Scott Paxson; linebackers Bruce Davis, Tom Korte, Andy Schantz and Donovan Woods; defensive backs Roy Lewis and Anthony Madison; and kicker Piotr Czech.

Harris, a sixth-round pick, and Shipley, a former Penn State player and a seventh-rounder, were the only 2009 draft picks cut.

While Tomlin said the cuts were made early so his players could settle in, the Steelers may not be done maneuvering their roster.

They have no experienced backup offensive linemen, and may claim one if a player they like shows up on waivers.