The Steelers made a host of roster moves Tuesday as they prepare for the start of the league year next month.
Signed were defensive tackle Lavon Hooks and long snapper Matt Dooley. Released were tight end Rob Blanchflower, offensive lineman Kelvin Palmer and offensive lineman Mitchell Van Dyk, all with failed physical designations.
The Steelers re-signed longtime long snapper Greg Warren last week, so Dooley figures to spell Warren during camp and get a look from the team’s decision makers as a future option at the position. Hooks was an undrafted free agent last year who spent some time with the Packers.
Blanchflower was a seventh-round pick of the Steelers in 2014. Van Dyk was a seventh-round pick of the Rams in 2014 who first signed with the Steelers last January. Both Blanchflower and Van Dyk were waived-injured by the Steelers last season and reverted to the team’s injured reserve list.
The Steelers added Palmer at the beginning of last year’s training camp as insurance at tackle. He’s never played in a regular season game.