The Steelers’ players were largely absent from the team’s facility on the South Side yesterday as they are enjoying their bye week. But the coaches and front office were busy.
They worked out at least five safeties to try to find help for their injury-ravaged secondary. Only one has played in an NFL regular season game.
- Kendell Brooks has played in five NFL games and spent time with the Cardinals, Colts, Commanders, and Titans after going undrafted out of Michigan State.
- Jack Henderson is a safety who signed with Tampa Bay after going undrafted this year out of Minnesota this year.
- Maxen Hook is also a rookie safety out of Toledo who’s been with the Eagles.
- Glendon Miller is a rookie out of Maryland who has been with the Chiefs. Perry is a second-year player who’s been with the Texans, Patriots, Titans, and Bears.
- Mark Perry went undrafted last year out of TCU, signing with the Miami Dolphins. He has also been with the Texans, Patriots, Titans, and Bears.
The Steelers lost rookie safety Sebastian Castro on Tuesday when he was signed off the practice squad by Tampa Bay.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is dealing with a rash of injuries, including the loss of Jalen Ramsey to a bad hamstring on Sunday, but says that’s not unusual.
Austin says the Steelers defense played well against the Vikings, but they also made some bad mistakes, so he is looking for improvement.
With edge rusher Alex Highsmith missing from the lineup since an injury in the second game of the season, Nick Herbig has filled in ably on the outside. Austin says whenever Highsmith returns, there will still be plenty of room for Herbig.
NFL
There’s plenty of uncertainty at the quarterback position in the AFC North. While the Steelers have been secure so far with Aaron Rodgers, the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson missed practice yesterday with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss several games. The Bengals’ Joe Burrow is out at least three months after toe surgery. The Browns have announced that rookie Dillon Gabriel will replace veteran Joe Flacco at QB this week in England against the Vikings. The Steelers play the Browns after the bye on October 12th.
