To make room for the signing of DeMarcus Van Dyke, the Steelers have released Isaiah Green. It’s a safe bet to wager that Green will be back with the team in some capacity soon. He’s been on and off repeatedly throughout the season, which is nothing uncommon. You can see his moves here: Isaiah Green.
Jerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette reports that the Steelers have signed CB DeMarcus Van Dyke after having him in for a workout this morning. DVD spent time on the roster last year, and saw mostly limited snaps on special teams, during a handful of games. He was with the team in training camp this summer, but suffered a serious hamstring injury during the last week of July. Van Dyke is a speedster, who ran a 4.28 40 yd during his 2011 combine. Bringing in Van Dyke is a depth move as Ike Taylor is recovering from concussion symptoms this week.
The Steelers have announced that they have waived Isaac Redman today. Kion Wilson has been re-signed to fill the available roster spot. Redman was named starter over Jonathan Dwyer after hardly playing this preseason. The release of Redman doesn’t really come as a surprise, or it shouldn’t anyway. The writing has been on the wall. He hasn’t been active on gameday since week 3, and has battled with injury/concussion issues during the first few games. Wilson was added to the practice squad October 11th shortly after being released to sign Sylvester.
The team has placed OT Levi Brown and TE David Johnson on IR, and announced two signings to fill the available roster spots. Brown injured his right triceps during pregame warmups on Sunday. He missed the 2012 season due to an injury to that muscle. Johnson dislocated his left wrist early in the first quarter against the Jets.
To fill the available roster spots, the Steelers have brought up CB Isaiah Green from the practice squad and have signed TE Richard Gordon. Green has been on and off the practice squad this season. You can see his roster bouncing here- Isaiah Green. Richard Gordon is a 6′ 4″, 285 lb free agent tight end who was released by the Raiders in August. The former 2011 6th round draft pick played with Oakland for 2 seasons, and started in 2 out of the 27 games in which he was active. His stats- 2 yards in 2011, 9 yards in 2012 with 1 touchdown. He was targeted once in 2011, and 7 times in 2012. It looks like the team is standing pat at the tackle position…at least for now.
The Steelers have added Kion Wilson to the practice squad. LB Alan Baxter was cut from the squad to make room. Wilson was released Wednesday when the Steelers signed Stevenson Sylvester. Baxter was with the team throughout training camp, and will probably be back at some point in my opinion.
With the signing of S Will Allen, the Steelers have announced that DaMon Cromartie-Smith has been waived/injured. Cromartie-Smith suffered an injury to his hip flexor during the loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London. Will Allen’s release by the Cowboys couldn’t have been timed better, as he is more familiar with this defense than any active safety not currently on the roster.
Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette reports that the team has signed S Will Allen. Allen was in for a workout with the Steelers yesterday, after being released by the Cowboys earlier this week. Allen has seen less and less playing time with the Cowboys each week, mostly because they are pretty loaded at the safety position. This signing likely means that Damon Cromartie-Smith’s hip flexor injury would hinder him for a long period of time, and he’ll likely be released.
Will Allen’s signing will be for the veteran minimum. Since he’s played with the Cowboys for the first 5 weeks, the Steelers will only be responsible for the prorated portion of his salar which is $620,000.
The Steelers have announced that they have signed former Steelers LB Stevenson Sylvester. LB Kion Wilson has been released. I reported earlier that the team had Sylvester in for a workout yesterday. Sylvester has been a free agent since being cut by the team on August 25th. Coach Tomlin said that Kion Wilson was a partial participant in practice yesterday. He injured his hamstring during the loss to the Vikings. Tomlin also mentioned that Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith was questionable with an injured hip flexor, so Sylvester’s services may likely be needed mainly to help on special teams.
LB Stevenson Sylvester, TE Chase Clement, and TE Ryan Otten were reportedly in Pittsburgh earlier this week for workouts with the team.
The team parted ways with Sly on August 25th, when the training camp roster was reduced down to 75. Drafted by the Steelers with the 166th pick in the 2010 draft, Sylvester has remained unsigned since being cut by the Steelers.
Clement was a UDFA out of LSU who was signed by the Giants this spring and cut in August. He was originally a defensive linemen in college, but converted to tight end, and was used mainly as a blocker. The Giants had hoped to use him as fullback hybrid, and one staff member said he saw similarities to Jake Ballard. Clement is 6′ 4″ and 265 lbs. His uncle is former Lions offensive linemen Eric Andolsek.
Otten is a 6′ 5″, 230 lb tight end who was signed by the Jaguars as an UDFA out of San Jose State U this spring. He was cut by the Jaguars in August.
Update- Otten was reportedly signed to the Chargers practice squad yesterday afternoon.
CB Isaiah Green was released yesterday to make room on the roster for the addition of Levi Brown. Green was added from the Practice Squad on September 17th, but has been inactive for the games the team has played since then.