Steelers 2-a-days: Myles Jack signed to stabilize ILB corps, Buddy Johnson aims to contribute

Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2022 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, two per day, between June 11 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

ILB MYLES JACK

Experience: 7^th season

Contract status: $4.75 million cap hit in 2022, signed through 2023

2022 outlook: It’s Take 5 for the fifth season since Ryan Shazier’s career ended via an in-game neck injury. During each of the past five calendar years, the Steelers have acquired a veteran inside linebacker with a reputation of covering a lot of ground in the middle of the defense: Jon Bostic in 2018, Mark Barron in 2019, Avery Williamson in 2020 and Joe Schobert last year.

None worked out; all were gone after their first season with the Steelers. Jack is the Steelers’ latest swing. He’s long been regarded as one of the league’s most athletic linebackers, but he probably won’t be as explosive this season at 27 years old as he was early in his career for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Still, he’s worth the shot – even if, by most indications, Jack is coming off the worst season of his pro career. Then again, the Jaguars were something of a dumpster fire on the field and off it under Urban Meyer in 2021. Jack could be a candidate for a big bounce-back, especially if position mate Devin Bush also has a better season in his second after a torn ACL.

If not, with the way Jack’s contract is structured, the Steelers will be looking for a sixth veteran inside linebacker over a sixth year starting next spring.

ILB Myles Jack on leaving the Jaguars to sign with the Steelers pic.twitter.com/qjsFmkOQIf

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 31, 2022

ILB BUDDY JOHNSON

Experience: 2^nd season

Contract status: $949,836 cap hit in 2022, signed through 2024

2022 outlook: If Jack (or Bush) doesn’t work out as a longterm solution going forward for the Steelers at inside linebacker, perhaps Johnson will be given a shot. A fourth-round pick last year, Johnson appeared in only four regular-season games as a rookie and played just six defensive snaps (all during a December loss at the Minnesota Vikings) – albeit part of his lack of availability was due to stints on injured reserve and the covid-19 list.

Steelers coaches seem to like Johnson’s demeanor, and he has the makings of a solid special-teams player. On defense, he’s in a group behind starters Bush and Jack and reserve Robert Spillane at his position. Intriguing converted running back Mark Robinson was taken in the sixth round and Ulysees Gilbert III is back for his fourth season at inside linebacker. It will be interesting how that position room shakes out and where Buddy Johnson’s place end up in it.

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