Rookie Steelers fullback Monte Pottebaum abruptly placed on reserve/retired list

No more “Monte the Mullet” at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.

Rookie fullback Monte Pottebaum — given a nickname to represent the style of his long blonde hair — was placed on the reserve/retired list, the Steelers announced Sunday afternoon.

Signed soon after the draft ended out of Iowa, Pottebaum was the only true fullback on the Steelers’ 90-man camp roster. Last season’s fullback, Derek Watt, was not re-signed. Tight end Connor Heyward, though, has background as a running back and has been taking practice reps at fullback. Heyward took at least one carry up the middle during teams drills at Sunday’s practice.

The Steelers deploy a fullback on fewer than 10% of their offensive snaps. Appearing in all 17 games last season, Watt played 77 snaps on offense.

Undeafted rookie FB Monte Pottebaum details “Monte The Mullet” pic.twitter.com/GoxN9wmkU9

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 13, 2023

Pottebaum had been taking part in organized team activities, minicamp and training camp practices. He’d at times been spotted among the tight ends position group and taking part in blocking drills moreso than the running backs, with whom Watt typically practiced.

The Steelers did not immediately give any context for Pottebaum’s apparent retirement.

The move leaves an open spot on the 90-man preseason roster. But coach Mike Tomlin would not commit to the open spot being filled by another fullback.

“We’ll go into our off day and look at totality of what our needs are and make our decisions from there,” Tomlin said.

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