Pittsburgh Steelers release three players with compensation for injuries

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers have activated three players from their reserve/injured list in recent days after agreeing to settlements.

Defensive backs Kalon Barnes and Nate Meadors as well as wide receiver Tarik Black have all been officially released by the Steelers after sustaining various injuries throughout training camp.

Barnes suffered a hamstring injury during Pittsburgh's practice on August 11 and was released after missing the following day.

The Baylor product was selected in the seventh round by the Carolina Panthers in 2022 after running a 4.23-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He signed a futures contract with the Steelers in January 2024 after spending just under two weeks on the team's practice squad last season.

Barnes made three tackles and allowed two pass interceptions in Pittsburgh's first preseason game of the year against the Houston Texans. He previously played in two regular season games with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022.

Black injured his hamstring the same day as Barnes and was released on August 13. He played a total of 10 snaps against the Texans, including three on special teams, and recorded one catch for 11 yards.

Black signed with the Steelers on July 31 after Roman Wilson injured his ankle early in training camp. He played three seasons at Michigan before transferring to Texas for his final collegiate season.

Black went undrafted in 2021 and recorded the only reception of his NFL career in 2021 with the New York Jets.

Meadors sustained a hamstring injury himself on August 6 and was released on August 8. He joined the Steelers' practice squad last season on December 27 and was released two weeks later before signing a futures contract with the team in February.

Meadors, who went undrafted out of UCLA in 2019, played in three regular season games with the Minnesota Vikings during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Each player was initially released from waivers and later placed back on the reserve/injured list. The Steelers were then given a five-day period to negotiate a deal, with the knowledge that if no deal was reached, the player would remain on the injured list for the remainder of the season.

Barnes, Black and Meadors will now receive pro-rated pay based on the expected length of their recovery from their injuries.

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