Pittsburgh Steelers: Who stays and who goes

It's only three weeks into the 2019 season and chances of the Steelers making the postseason are quickly dimming. 0-3 teams have almost a 0% chance of making the playoffs, and without major changes, this team doesn't appear to be full of surprises.

To fix the troubles this team has seen, changes need to be made. It may not happen Week 4, but it could happen this season. Baring the question - who's in and who's out?

Who's in

James Conner - James Conner is hurting this offense right now, but it's not time to turn away from the third-year back. Conner has a lot of making up to do, and maybe that could come from a shared role with Jaylen Samuels and Benn Snell Jr., but he isn't worth bailing on, yet.

This season should be an experiment to see how this backfield can co-exist, working in all three of the young backs for their given strengths.

Mason Rudolph - Mason Rudolph didn't look bad in his first NFL start. Daniel Jones may have stole the spotlight and made comparisons of young quarterbacks a little difficult, but by no means did Rudolph play poorly.

Ben Roethlisberger doesn't need surgery and will be back in 2020. It's still worth letting Rudolph command this team this year, and seeing how much he can develop with the roster around him.

JuJu Smith-Schuster/Diontae Johnson/James Washington - Not all of the Steelers' receivers are worth keeping around, but these three are. The young trio of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson and James Washington look like a reliable group. There needs to be more, but it's a strong core to start with.

Vance McDonald - Vance McDonald is looking strong this season. He has . no backup, so essentially, he's doing this on his own. The Steelers need to find a backup, but not anyone to compete with McDonald for the starting role.

Rudolph loves to look his tight end's way. That'll continue, and moving forward, Pittsburgh needs to get someone behind him to work as a duo.

Terrell Edmunds - Terrell Edmunds isn't the defensive back to move on from. He looked more comfortable when Minkah Fitzpatrick was on the field. It may be because there's less pressure for him to make plays, but as the second-best safety on the field, Edmunds isn't a bad option.

It's way too early to fill the spot Edmunds is playing. The defense has bigger needs that safety, and having a second-year guy back there isn't the worst option. If this begins to turn into an Artie Burns situation, though, the move needs to be made fast.

Who's out

Bud Dupree - Bud Dupree is the most depressing player on the defense. His inability to pressure the quarterback appeared even stronger in Week 3 against a backup left tackle.

At some point, the coaching staff will realize Dupree isn't worth the money. Resigning him this offseason means the Steelers just invested in a player who hasn't improved at all in five years.

Artie Burns - The final straw of Artie Burns' Steelers career came when he missed a wide open special teams tackle in San Francisco. He's not an NFL caliber player, even in smaller roles. Sometimes you need to admit a player is a bust.

With Steven Nelson and Joe Haden, the outside is filled. Pittsburgh needs to add depth and a slot corner, but Cameron Sutton hopefully fills one of those roles. Not Burns, though, his time in Pittsburgh needs to end.

Sean Davis - Sean Davis is a reliable all-around safety, but Minkah Fitzpatrick has removed any chance of a new contract. Davis will hit the free agent market this summer and land somewhere else, but it won't be Pittsburgh.

Fitzpatrick is too much of an upgrade to resign Davis. If he returns this season, he'll play in the rotation, but it's no longer his job with the Steelers.

Ryan Switzer - Ryan Switzer provides no spark to the Steelers roster, and . outside of his chemistry with Ben Roethlisberger, there was no reason for him to be playing as much as he's been.

It would be great if he could produce in the return game, and maybe catch one or two slot passes for a first dow, but three weeks in the question is stronger than ever - would Eli Rogers have been better.

Donte Moncrief - Donte Moncrief won't make it through the season. The wide receiver signing has been terrible, and being inactive in Week 3 was a sign of what's to come.

It was a mistake signing but not one you can't move on from. Pittsburgh doesn't want Moncrief on the field if they can't trust him. He's not worth keeping inactive week after week. Meaning the best option is to release him.

Randy Fitchner - Time to get to the coordinators. It's simple - the Steelers need to clean house. If Mike Tomlin's time isn't up, Randy Fitchner and Keith Butler's are. Lets start with Fitchner.

The offense seems to be doing the exact same thing time and time again. The crazy part about it is that it hasn't worked and still continues to be used.

Fitcher has been a disappointment since taking the job. His inability to adjust the game plan or take any chances down field will continue to keep this offense limited.

Keith Butler - Keith Butler should've been fired year one and somehow still has a job. If the Steelers don't make the move to find a replacement at some point this season or in the offseason, there are bigger issues that need to be addressed.

He's shown absolutely nothing worth keeping him around. The defense has as much talent as almost any in the NFL and still falls short every week. That's on Butler, his lack of in-game adjustments, his lack of readiness coming into games and his lack of development with some bright young players.