Steelers Could Add New Vets to Defense..
The Pittsburgh Steelers could count on some veterans to fill holes on defense from the practice squad.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are facing a litany of injuries and a suspension that will leave them especially shorthanded as they travel to Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio to face the Bengals.
To account for some of the major losses the Steelers are facing right now, head coach Mike Tomlin said the team will look internally toward their practice squad and he has two players in mind that could help right away.
We’re really looking at being inclusive in looking at some guys and some guys in the program that are capable NFL veterans and haven’t been given an opportunity yet. We’re open to that,” Tomlin said.
“Myles [Jack], Eric Rowe, for example, are two guys with defensive playing experience that are in strong consideration given some things that are going on.
So there’s a lot of discussions to be had from a personnel standpoint.”
Jack is familiar with the Steelers after playing in 15 games and starting 13 for them in 2022. He led Pittsburgh in tackles with 104 and defended three passes while hitting the quarterback once.
After spending two preseason weeks with the Eagles, Jack retired and started flying planes and managing a minor league hockey team, before the Steelers brought him back to replace the injured Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb.
Jack would provide some necessary experience to a room that has been leaning on Elandon Roberts and a hodgepodge of backups and practice squad call-ups like Blake Martinez, Mark Robinson and Mykal Walker in recent weeks.
Rowe was signed to the practice squad on the same day Jack was. He hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since Week 18 of last season.
He has made stops in Philadelphia, New England and Miami during his eight-year NFL career, which included two Super Bowl titles with the Patriots.
He will serve as insurance for a defensive backfield that has lost Keanu Neal to injured reserve, Elijah Riley to an ankle injury, Minkah Fitzpatrick to a knee injury and Damotae Kazee to a season-ending suspension.
Riley could be back this week and Trent Thompson, who suffered a stinger against the Colts, is questionable for the Bengals game.
As the Steelers try to put bandaids on some significant wounds, they are turning to Rowe and Jack, two players with more than 100 games of NFL experience each, in to be easy plug-and-play solutions to a concerning problem of player attrition.