Steelers 2-a-days: Tyree Kinnel added to safety mix; local standout Christian Kuntz brought back

Editor’s note: Leading up to a unique Pittsburgh Steelers training camp staged at Heinz Field this year, the Tribune-Review will be running through the team’s 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2020 season. The breakdown will go through the roster, in mostly alphabetical order, two per day, between June 9 and July 23, a day originally planned to be reporting day for players to camp. (Contract data courtesy spotrac.com)

Tyree Kinnel stepped up for Michigan. Pick-six and a sack. pic.twitter.com/gZqD9Ic3r1

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 9, 2017

S TYREE KINNEL

Experience: XFL this spring, NFL training camp last year

Contract status: $610,000 cap hit in 2020, under contractual control for at least 4 seasons

2020 outlook: The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Kinnel spent last year’s preseason with the Cincinnati Bengals after going undrafted out of Michigan, where he was a two-year starter and captain. Draft analysts generally viewed him more as a box safety (he led Michigan in tackles as a senior), a spot where the Steelers invested a draft pick (Antoine Brooks) weeks after signing Kinnel.

Bottom line: For backup safeties, special teams is a must — and it’s a body type and skillset that often lends itself to covering kicks and punts. That suggests never counting out a camp safety’s chances of making the team. Brooks’ addition hurts Kinnel’s cause, but Kinnel has a recent template to follow: Last year, the Steelers signed Kameron Kelly out of the XFL, and Kelly was good enough during camp that he not only made the team, he started the regular-season opener. The Steelers are deeper at safety now, so don’t expect a repeat from Kinnel.

'Dream come true' playing for Steelers for Chartiers Valley, Duquesne alum Christian Kuntz

(Via @TribLive) https://t.co/lrrlYdGLOf

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 22, 2019

LS/LB CHRISTIAN KUNTZ

Experience: Offseason/camp/practice-squad rosters of 4 NFL teams, played in XFL this spring

Contract status: $610,000 cap hit in 2020, under contractual control for at least 4 seasons

2020 outlook: Kuntz was brought back by the Steelers after spending three weeks on their 2019 preseason roster. He was focusing mostly on linebacker then; this time, long-snapping could be more of a focus. Because of his tackling and coverage skills, Kuntz could have a route to unseat Kameron Canaday at long snapper, although it’ll be an uphill climb.

Bottom line: A standout at Duquesne (he’s the Northeast Conference’s career sacks leader), Kuntz might have previously been best known as a teammate of T.J. McConnell on those great Chartiers Valley basketball teams. Kuntz was a playmaker in the preseason (two tackles for loss, sack in the Carolina game) and seems to be viewed by the Steelers as a “gamer.” It won’t be easy to stick once the season starts, though.

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.