Carson Steele’s brief and injury-interrupted stint with the Philadelphia Eagles ended Tuesday when the team waived the former UCLA Bruins running back from injured reserve with an injury settlement.
The move, announced via the NFL transaction wire, makes the 24-year-old free agent once he is healthy, allowing him to pursue opportunities with other clubs.
Steele, who transferred to UCLA from Ball State ahead of the 2023 season, spent one productive year in Westwood.
In 12 games for the Bruins, he rushed for 847 yards on 167 carries (5.1 yards per attempt) and scored six touchdowns while adding 17 receptions for 163 yards and two more scores.
His physical running style helped UCLA finish 8-5 and claim a Starco Brands LA Bowl victory.
Before arriving in Los Angeles, Steele had already established himself as a workhorse at Ball State.
In 2022, he led the MAC in rushing with 1,556 yards and 14 touchdowns on 289 carries, earning first-team All-MAC honors. The Greenwood, Indiana, native carried that toughness to the Pac-12, giving the Bruins a reliable between-the-tackles option during Chip Kelly’s final season.
Undrafted in 2024, Steele signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and carved out a role as a hybrid running back/fullback. He appeared in all 17 games as a rookie, starting three, and finished with 56 carries for 183 yards.
After spending 2025 largely on the practice squad, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles in January 2026.
Philadelphia waived him at final cuts in late August despite a productive preseason (193 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns), then brought him back to the practice squad.
With the Eagles’ backfield thinned by injuries to Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, and Will Shipley, Steele was promoted to the active roster on October 9.
He appeared in two games, primarily on special teams, and recorded one catch for four yards before suffering a shoulder injury in a Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
The Eagles waived him with an injury designation on October 20; he cleared waivers and landed on IR. Tuesday’s injury settlement ends his time on the roster.
Reports indicate an estimated return window around November 8, at which point Steele can sign with another team.
For UCLA fans, Steele’s path reflects the program’s recent transfer pipeline: a MAC standout who contributed immediately in Westwood, then persisted as an undrafted free agent through multiple roster cuts.
The latest transaction simply returns the former Bruin to the open market, where his combination of size, physicality, and special-teams value may still find a home once the shoulder heals.
