Signed from Giants practice squad, OLB Tuzar Skipper returns to Steelers
It took 11 weeks into the NFL season for the Pittsburgh Steelers to bring linebacker Tuzar Skipper back to their 53-man roster.
Skipper, who was lost on a waiver claim to the New York Giants after the first week of games, returned to the Steelers on Tuesday when defensive end L.T. Walton was placed on injured reserve with a meniscus tear in his knee. Skipper was signed from the Giants practice squad and must spend three weeks on the Steelers’ active roster.
A rookie outside linebacker from Toledo, Skipper was signed out of a tryout camp after the NFL Draft. He was a training camp and preseason phenom, recording five sacks and two forced fumbles in the exhibition games.
The Steelers placed Skipper on waivers Sept. 7 when they promoted wide receiver Johnny Holton from the practice squad for the season opener at New England. Two days later, the Giants placed a waiver claim for Skipper.
Skipper totaled three tackles and a half sack in six games for the Giants before he was waived and signed to their practice squad on Oct. 23.
Skipper will provide a healthy alternative at outside linebacker. Anthony Chickillo was inactive against Cleveland with a rib injury and Ola Adeniyi left early in the first quarter with a concussion.
Walton was signed earlier in the season after defensive end Stephon Tuitt was placed on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle. Walton was not active for any games.
Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.