Free agent RB John Clay is participating in Bengals' rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. Clay carried the ball 10 times for the Steelers in 2011, but never cracked an active roster after being waived twice last summer. This could be his last NFL chance.

Free agent RB John Clay worked out for the Bengals Monday. With Bernard Scott (knee) and Brian Leonard (ribs) both sidelined, the Bengals are left with only Cedric Peerman behind BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Clay isn't a great fit as his power-running style is similar to the Law Firm's, but this is confirmation that the Bengals are in the market for running back help.

Steelers waived/injured RB John Clay. Clay was carted off the field during Sunday's practice with what was believed to be a torn quadriceps muscle. Undrafted out of Wisconsin last year, Clay was behind Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer and rookie Chris Rainey in the backfield pecking order.

Steelers promoted RB John Clay from their practice squad. Clay will be mere stretch-run insurance with Jonathan Dwyer out for the year and Mewelde Moore battling a multi-week MCL sprain. Rashard Mendenhall will be the lead back, Ike Redman the pass-down specialist, and Clay No. 3.

Steelers OC Bruce Arians indicated that RB John Clay will not be promoted from the practice squad to add depth with Mewelde Moore (knee) out. Clay can't fill Moore's passing-down role, so the Steelers may go with just Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman as game-day actives against the Rams.

Steelers signed RB John Clay, OL Trevis Turner, DE Corbin Bryant, TE Jamie McCoy, WR Tyler Grisham, OL John Malecki, LB Mortty Ivy, and DB Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith to their practice squad. Clay lost out to fellow bulldozer Jonathan Dwyer after rushing 15 times for 57 yards (3.8 YPC) in preseason action. Grisham is back for another go-round after spending last season on the Steelers' practice squad.

Steelers waived RB John Clay, LBs Baraka Atkins, Mario Harvey, Chris McCoy and Mortty Ivy, DT Corbin Bryant, DBs Brett Greenwood, Macho Harris, Donovan Warren and Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, RB James Johnson, OLs Colin Miller, Kyle Jolly, John Malecki, Trevis Turner and Keith Williams, WRs Armand Robinson, Wes Lyons and Tyler Grisham, TE Jamie McCoy, and kicker Swayze Waters. Clay was the 2009 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year at Wisconsin, but running backs with 5.0-flat forty times rarely even warrant practice squad spots in the pros. Including Byron Leftwich's placement on I.R., the Steelers are now down to 58 players. They'll drop five more by Saturday evening.

Steelers RB John Clay clarified reports that he walked out of practice Monday. Clay was told to leave by RBs coach Kirby Wilson after making a mistake in drills. Clay promptly headed for the locker room instead of the sidelines. "It was all a misunderstanding," Clay explained. He remains an extreme longshot to make the team.

Multiple beat reporters noted that undrafted RB John Clay walked out on Steelers practice Monday afternoon. A staffer chased Clay down and convinced him to return to team drills. "Never seen that before," tweeted Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Color him gone." Clay was red-flagged with character and medical concerns on draft weekend. This won't help his chances of an NFL career. He was already considered a roster longshot.

Steelers signed former Wisconsin RB John Clay. A 248-pound power back, Clay went undrafted due to character and medical concerns. He was the 2009 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, but his performance slipped in a three-way rotation with Montee Ball and James White last season. Clay's running style does fit Pittsburgh's power-based scheme, but he runs a 4.9 forty. Slow backs don't last long in the pros.