The wild ride — and meteoric rise — continues for Kameron Kelly.
A former Alliance of American Football player who was cut by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent last year, Kelly not only made the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 53-man roster, he could be in line to start their opener Sunday in New England.
Kelly said he got first-team reps at free safety during practice Monday.
“(Sean Davis) is nursing an (ankle) injury right now, so I am just stepping in and doing what the coaches as me to do,” Kelly said.
Monday’s practice was the first since rosters were trimmed from 91 to 53 (plus an 11-man practice squad), meaning it was the first for Kelly as a full-time NFL player. Kelly said he had an interception of Mason Rudolph during the practice.
For Tomlin and the @Steelers, Kameron Kelly has been more than enough to earn him an apparent spot on their team.https://t.co/7EFfhP3fo8
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) August 29, 2019
It was all but certain Kelly was going to survive the final cuts, but that didn’t mean there weren’t nervous moments for Kelly leading up to Saturday’s 4 p.m. deadline.
“I wasn’t told anything. I just sat at home, waiting for a call,” Kelly said. “I didn’t get one, and I was sure happy.
“I am thankful for the opportunity, and I feel like I made the most of it. And now I’ve got 16 more opportunities.”
Kelly had his uniform number switched from the No. 38 he wore throughout camp to No. 29. No. 38 is used by running back Jaylen Samuels.
“Twenty-nine was the last 20-something number open,” Kelly said.
Kelly is expected to be the top backup at both safety spots and have a role in the dime defense and other subpackages.
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