The Pittsburgh Steelers lost outside linebacker Jacoby Windmon to the Carolina Panthers, and he was replaced on the practice squad by a veteran who played a key part in their most recent game.
The Panthers signed Windmon off the Steelers’ practice squad on Tuesday, a day after the Steelers released Ade Ogundeji from their active roster and two days after Ogundeji made his Steelers debut in a victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Ogundeji was upgraded to the active roster on Saturday, after spending the first six weeks of the regular season on the practice squad.
Ogundeji started as the Steelers’ third outside linebacker against the Raiders, playing 16 snaps in a game in which they were without three players at the position (Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and DeMarvin Leal) due to injuries. Highsmith, on the other hand, is expected to return to action against the New York Jets on Sunday after missing three games due to a groin ailment.
To fill the void at outside linebacker, the Steelers went to Ogundeji and Eku Leota from the practice squad. Windmon was the only OLB on the practice squad who did not play in Sunday’s game, but the Panthers appear to think the rookie from Michigan State is ready for action. They added him to their active roster on Tuesday.
Windmon, an undrafted free agent, made plays during training camp but did not make the season-opening practice squad. He had 13 in-season days with the Steelers.
Ogundeji’s actions Sunday marked his first NFL game since the end of the 2022 season. Ogundeji appeared in 32 games and started 27 for the Atlanta Falcons in 2021-22.
Craig Young, an undrafted rookie inside linebacker from Kansas, joined the Steelers’ practice squad on Wednesday. Young finished training camp and preseason with the Indianapolis Colts, but was waived before Week 1.
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