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May 2 (UPI) -- The dreaded pink slip is hitting hard following the NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers released four players Tuesday. Among the cuts were running backs Brandon Brown-Dukes and Gus Johnson. Pittsburgh also axed wide receiver Canaan Severin and cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz.
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Shabazz, 24, had the most playing experience of the group. He played in eight games in 2016 for the Houston Texans and Steelers after signing with the Texans as an undrafted free agent. Shabazz played in seven games with the Steelers last season, registering his only career tackle.
Johnson, 23, spent time with the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys in 2015. He worked with the Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers last offseason. Severin, 24, signed with the Steelers in 2016.
The Steelers bulked up at running back through the 2017 NFL Draft. The franchise drafted USC wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in the second round and Pittsburgh running back James Conner in the third round Friday. Pittsburgh also drafted Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Watt, Tennessee cornerback Cameron Sutton, Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs, Utah defensive back Brian Allen, Louisville long snapper Colin Holba and Western Michigan defensive end Keion Adams.
On Monday the Steelers released quarterback Zach Mettenberger. The franchise signed nine rookie free agents Saturday, including: DTs Nelson Adams and Christian Brown, OG Ethan Cooper, DE Francis Kallon, LB Keith Kelsey, TE Scott Orndoff, QB Nick Schuessler, RB Rushel Shell and DB Terrish Webb.
