Steelers Release P Cameron Johnston Retain Corliss Waitman

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released veteran punter Cameron Johnston, signaling Corliss Waitman as the team's starting punter moving forward. Johnston, who signed a three-year, $9 million contract in 2024, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first game of the 2024 season, allowing Waitman to step in and perform strongly, including setting a franchise record for average net yards per punt. Despite Johnston's solid preseason efforts in 2025, Waitman's better preseason average and prior performance earned him the starting role. The Steelers will incur a dead cap hit but save salary cap space by releasing Johnston, who is expected to be a top free-agent punter. Waitman, 30, is in the last year of his contract and has been a reliable punter for the Steelers since 2021. Johnston's release marks the end of the punting competition, with Waitman firmly established as the Steelers' punter for the upcoming season.