The Pittsburgh Steelers have announced the signing of outside linebacker Marcus Haynes, following the injury of key pass rusher Alex Highsmith, who is expected to miss two to three weeks with a groin injury. Haynes, a former Denver Broncos player, returns to the Steelers’ practice squad and will provide much-needed depth during Highsmith’s absence.
Haynes, who is expected to contribute on the scout team, may also be called upon for special teams duties. The Steelers are considering elevating other players like Ade Ogundeji to help bolster their outside linebacker rotation in the coming weeks.
With Highsmith sidelined, DeMarvin Leal and rookie Nick Herbig are expected to see a significant increase in snaps alongside T.J. Watt. The team is also looking at Haynes or Ogundeji as potential candidates for practice squad elevations, especially to support the special teams unit.
Haynes, an undrafted free agent from Old Dominion in the 2023 NFL Draft, originally joined the Steelers late in training camp. Since entering the NFL, he has had stints with the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and Cleveland Browns.
With Haynes rejoining the practice squad, the Steelers still have one open spot left, which they are expected to fill soon to address other positions of need.
Leave a Reply