Steelers bring back former OLB Jamir Jones on waiver claim, cut Derrek Tuszka
Not content with upgrading one of the backup outside linebacker positions this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers brought back a former player to fill another spot Thursday.
Jamir Jones, who was lost on a waiver claim last season, was brought back the same way, and he is replacing the player who took his place on the 53-man roster in 2021.
The Steelers were awarded Jones on a waiver claim after he was let go Wednesday by the Jacksonville Jaguars. To make room for Jones on the 53-man roster, the Steelers waived outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka.
It was Tuszka who replaced Jones on the roster early last season. Jones appeared in three games for the Steelers after making the roster out of training camp, and he started in Week 3 because of an injury to T.J. Watt. But when the Steelers promoted Tuszka from the practice squad and tried to sneak Jones through waivers, the Los Angeles Rams claimed him. Later in the season, he was waived by the Rams and claimed by the Jaguars.
In total, Jones appeared in 15 games last season between the three teams. He had 10 tackles and no sacks.
In his second stint with the Steelers, Jones figures to slot in behind veteran Malik Reed, who was acquired from the Denver Broncos on Tuesday to be the main backup behind starters Watt and Alex Highsmith.
The Steelers signed Jones as an undrafted free agent in April 2021 after watching him perform at Notre Dame’s pro day. He left Notre Dame after the 2019 season and was signed by the Houston Texans the following spring.
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.