Dowell now gets a fresh look with six days to go before the Steelers' preseason opener against Green Bay.
A Career Derailed By One Play
Dowell's path back to an NFL roster has been a long one.
The Tennessee Titans took him in the seventh round of the 2023 draft out of UT Martin, where he closed out a six-year college career as the program's all-time leading receiver after a breakout senior season of 67 catches, 1,036 yards, and six touchdowns.
The #Steelers have claimed WR Colton Dowell and TE Lance Mason off waivers from the Seattle #Seahawks and San Francisco #49ers.
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) August 7, 2026
To make room on their 90-man roster, they waived TE JJ Galbreath and WR A.T. Perry.https://t.co/UTN7UdJRDM
His rookie year showed real promise early, as he made the Titans' final roster and saw his first action in a Week 4 win over Cincinnati. Then, in Week 17 against Houston, Dowell tore his ACL and meniscus, an injury severe enough to end his season and wipe out the entire following year.
He finished his rookie campaign with one catch for three yards across 10 games, most of his snaps coming on special teams.
Three Teams In Eight Months
Tennessee cut him during training camp in 2025 as he worked his way back from the injury. The Baltimore Ravens picked him up on their practice squad that October, but released him via an injury settlement after just five days.
The Steelers claimed former 49ers WR Colton Dowell off waivers
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 7, 2026
San Francisco signed him to a futures deal in January, only to waive him this week, setting up Pittsburgh's claim.
At 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, Dowell now faces long odds of making the Steelers' 53-man roster, but a strong showing in camp and preseason games could be enough to land him a practice squad spot, giving him one more chance to prove the flashes from his rookie year weren't a fluke.
