Steelers News: The Steelers claim OLB Jamir Jones from the waivers Quit OLB Derrek Tuszka

September 2, 2022 by admin

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Jones made the Steelers roster last year thanks to a standout summer, playing well on special teams and going from being unknown to take a spot on the roster. He appeared in three games for the team, recording three tackles. He was fired on September 28, the same day Tuszka, then on the team’s practice team, was officially elevated to the 53-man roster. That is, Jones was not hired by Tuszka last year, and this year, Tuszka was not hired by Jones.

Tuszka finished the season as a rotating alternate linebacker and member of the multiphase task force. He took over the #3 OLB duties at the end of the year, beating Taco Charlton and finishing the season with two sacks.

Jones was claimed by the Los Angeles Rams last year, but the team released him on Christmas Day when the Rams won a Super Bowl. Jones was then picked up by Jacksonville, who took him for the summer until he was released yesterday. On three teams in 2021, Jones played 250 special team snapshots and recorded ten tackles in total.

Here’s what we wrote about him last summer.

“He had six pressures on 62 fast passes this season, a strong pressure rate of 9.7%. More importantly, their pressures led to ball losses. His defense against the run was solid, he played a lot of plays, working as the second TEAM ROLB ahead of rookie Quincy Roche throughout camp. He was also a strong member of the special team with multiple tackles in the coverage unit.”

Pittsburgh has two new back-ups outside linebackers to start the year, trading Malik Reed from Denver on Tuesday before re-signing Jones today. Alternate starters will be TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith. Hamilcar Rashed Jr. is part of the team’s practice team.

The Steelers’ roster remains at 53.