Steelers Signed Travis Homer to Active Roster
The Pittsburgh Steelers added Travis Homer to the active roster following an injury to Gennings Dunker.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Football
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The Pittsburgh Steelers signed running back Travis Homer to the active roster after placing Gennings Dunker on injured reserve. The team also elevated Lew Nichols and Doneiko Slaughter to the roster for the upcoming Week 3 game.
Why it matters
The roster adjustments were necessary to bolster the team depth at the running back position. The club turned to practice squad elevations to maintain its active roster requirements for the current matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Travis Homer recorded 16 rushing yards on two carries during Week 2 action. Doneiko Slaughter previously participated in nine special teams snaps, while Lew Nichols logged six special teams snaps last season.
The players
Travis Homer
He is a running back who joined the active roster after recording 16 yards on two carries during the second week of the season.
Gennings Dunker
He is a player for the Pittsburgh Steelers who was placed on the injured reserve list after sustaining an injury during a Thursday practice.
Lew Nichols
He is a practice squad player elevated to the active roster for Week 3 who played six special teams snaps in a single game last season.
Doneiko Slaughter
He is a practice squad member elevated to the active roster who participated in nine special teams snaps over the first two weeks.
The details
The Pittsburgh Steelers moved Gennings Dunker to injured reserve following an injury he sustained during practice on Thursday. To fill the vacancy, the team signed Travis Homer, while utilizing temporary elevations for Nichols and Slaughter to ensure depth for the game against Cincinnati.
Timeline
Gennings Dunker suffered an injury at practice on Thursday.
The Steelers officially announced the roster moves on Saturday.
The team will face the Cincinnati Bengals during Week 3.
Season Trajectory
These moves reflect the typical roster churn teams manage to maintain depth during the competitive regular season. The status of practice squad players remains fluid as the organization balances immediate injury needs against the three-game-day-elevation limit per season.
The activation of Travis Homer provides additional depth at the running back position for the Week 3 offensive rotation. Fantasy managers and fans should note that Nichols and Slaughter will not remain on the active roster beyond the upcoming game.
The takeaway
Maintaining roster flexibility is a core component of surviving the physical demands of an NFL season. Strategic use of practice squad elevations allows teams to remain competitive while managing long-term injury recovery timelines for their primary players.
What happens next
Lew Nichols and Doneiko Slaughter are scheduled to revert to the practice squad immediately following the conclusion of the Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Further reading
For more on roster management and team updates, visit the Football section.
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