Wide receiver Jacob Copeland, who was a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first wave of roster cuts on Monday, feels like he wasn’t given a fair opportunity by the team.
“Just because you love the game doesn’t mean the game will love you back,” Copeland wrote on X Thursday, along with his highlights from training camp practices.
When asked why he was cut by a fan, Copeland responded, “Didn’t get a chance to showcase preseason. No opportunity.”
Another fan chimed in and said everyone is elite at the NFL level. Copeland agreed, but he still feels like he wasn’t given an opportunity in Pittsburgh.
“Absolutely. And I will never discredit that, but all I wanted/want is an opportunity,” Copeland wrote.
Copeland didn’t make much noise in the preseason. In Saturday’s preseason finale against the Detroit Lions, he was targeted once and he was unable to make the catch.
The Steelers signed Copeland on June 24. The Steelers had Copeland on their practice squad for two short stints in 2023. Copeland, 24, is a 5-foot-11, 201-pound wide receiver in his second professional season out of Maryland.
He signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent last spring, but was waived at the start of training camp on Aug. 2. He then signed with the Minnesota Vikings, but was released on cut-down day on Aug. 29.
Copeland first joined the Steelers practice squad on Sept. 12, and remained there through Oct. 3. He then came back to the practice squad on Nov. 28 and was released on Dec. 4
At Maryland, Copeland had modest production in his one season, catching 26 passes for 376 yards and two touchdowns in 2022. Before transferring to the Terps, he spent four seasons at Florida. His best year with the Gators was in 2021, when he caught 41 passes for 642 yards and four touchdowns.
The Steelers scouted Copeland in the pre-draft process at the East-West Shrine Bowl and his Maryland pro day, where he turned in an excellent Relative Athletic Score of 8.19, showing excellent straight-line speed (4.42-second 40-yard dash) and explosiveness (10-foot-7 broad jump) but below-average agility (4.47-second short shuttle).
