MARQUETTE – With one game left in the preseason, NFL franchises made trades and cuts to whittle their rosters down to 75 before the final cut this weekend.

Two Northern Michigan University players were among the lucky ones to survive the process and will have one more game to prove themselves enough to make the final 53-man roster that must be established on Saturday.

After wowing the Pittsburgh coaching staff in spring tryouts, wide receiver Marcus Tucker is still alive with the Steelers. He’s nabbed two passes for 17 yards in two games, but didn’t play last week. His chance to strengthen his case will be Thursday night at Carolina.

Green Bay Packers center Kyle Steuck got a dream opportunity a couple of weeks ago, but has yet to appear in a game. His last chance comes at the Kansas City Chiefs in a game to be televised at 8 p.m. Thursday on WLUC-TV6.

If either player makes their final respective roster, he will be the first Wildcat to take a snap in the NFL since linebacker Mark Maddox. Maddox played in the NFL from 1992-2000 with the Buffalo Bills and the Arizona Cardinals.

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.