For the fifth time in nine NFL seasons, Kwon Alexander will be sporting a different uniform number. For the second time in five weeks with the Pittsburgh Steelers, too.
A veteran inside linebacker who signed July 30, Alexander was wearing No. 54 for what can reasonably be classified as the regular season’s first practice Monday. Alexander had worn No. 26 throughout training camp and the preseason, but the Steelers have a tenured No. 26, running back Anthony McFarland.
NFL rules allow for a team to carry duplicate jersey numbers during the preseason (provided one of the players is on offense and the other defense), but that is a no-no during the regular season.
When McFarland made the season-opening active roster after spending last season on the practice squad, that necessitated a switch for Alexander. The surprise was in what number he switched to.
Veteran Markus Golden had been wearing No. 54 since he signed during organized team activities, but the outside linebacker will spend the regular season in a No. 44 jersey. Tanner Muse had claimed No. 44 a month before Golden’s arrival, but Muse was cut last week. Golden was No. 44 throughout the first eight seasons of his career with the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants.
“It’s just a number, man. Just a number,” Alexander said after Monday’s practice.
Alexander previously had worn No. 58, No. 56, No. 5 and No. 9 while playing for four other NFL teams. The league in recent years loosened its restrictions on what digits players at certain positions can wear, and Alexander preferred the single digits. Previously during this camp, however, he said the Steelers won’t give out such a number to a defensive player.
“As a player, I am not worried about a number,” said Alexander, who is in a timeshare with Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts at his position. “I am worried about how to get (wins). That’s my first main goal.”
In other uniform-number news, newly signed cornerback Desmond King was assigned No. 25. Among new practice-squad players of note, former Pitt running back Qadree Ollison is wearing No. 41, second-year NFL fullback Zander Horvath is No. 45 and eight-year veteran former Dallas Cowboys defensive back Anthony Brown is No. 21.
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