The Pittsburgh Steelers report to 2022 training camp Tuesday. Here’s a look at each of the defensive players on the roster.

Defensive linemen

97 CAMERON HEYWARD · 6-5 · 295

Heyward has gotten better as his career has gone on. But at 33, how long will that last? He wants to be known as the NFL’s best D-lineman, and with four All-Pro honors in five years, he has a case.

65 LARRY OGUNJOBI · 6-3 · 305

At the time of his signing in June, the Steelers couldn’t do any better in their effort to replace the retired Stephon Tuitt. If Ogunjobi’s foot is healthy after surgery, he’s a bargain at a max of $8 million this season.

94 TYSON ALUALU · 6-3 · 304

Alualu has become by far the Steelers’ oldest player. He’d been steady and reliable for five seasons until a broken foot ended 2021 after four quarters. At 35, how well will his body recover?

95 CHRIS WORMLEY · 6-5 · 300

Wormley became a de facto starter last year when Tuitt and Alualu were out. He responded with career-best production. With Alualu back and Ogunjobi on board, though, Wormley is at best the top backup in 2022.

92 ISAIAHH LOUDERMILK· 6-7 · 293

The Steelers targeted Loudermilk when they dealt a future pick for the selection to take him in 2021. As a rookie, he showed flashes of why. Taking a Year 2 leap could signify a long-term starter.

57 MONTRAVIUS ADAMS · 6-4 · 304

Adams was quite the find late last season off the Saints practice squad, so much so that the Steelers re-signed him to a two-year deal. Adams excelled at nose tackle but can play any DL position.

98 DEMARVIN LEAL · 6-4 · 290

The 83rd overall pick, Leal is the highest-drafted Steelers defensive linemen since Tuitt in 2014. In an aging position room, Leal probably has the highest ceiling of the next generation of Steelers D-linemen.

73 CARLOS DAVIS · 6-2 · 320

Davis showed signs of breaking out late in his rookie 2020 season and during last season’s camp. But injury slowed Davis in 2021, and when he returned, he had tumbled down the depth chart.

Steelers 2022 training camp preview

• All eyes on offense when Steelers open 1st post-Ben training camp • Steelers vow to get back to 'the standard' of stopping the run on defense • Tim Benz: Steelers may be a middle of the road team, but these aren't middle of the road predictions • Mark Madden's Hot Take: Steelers have a method with rookies, so expect Kenny Pickett to be 3rd string

99 HENRY MONDEAUX · 6-4 · 280

Mondeaux has appeared in 27 of the Steelers’ past 29 games. But in a crowded position room, can he continue to carve out a niche? Last season, he didn’t play until Tuitt and Alualu went down.

68 KHALIL DAVIS · 6-1 · 308

Carlos’ twin was drafted a round earlier in 2020, but while Carlos has stuck with the team that selected him, Khalil bounced around three teams. He spent the final two months of last season with the Steelers.

66 DONOVAN JETER · 6-3 · 325

A Beaver Falls graduate who played at Michigan, Jeter was targeted by the Steelers as soon as the draft ended. Jeter has ability to play at all spots along a defensive line.

64 DOUG COSTIN · 6-2 · 320

Signed a week before camp began, Costin has 13 regular-season games of NFL experience since signing with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He played for the USFL champion Birmingham Stallions this spring.

Outside linebackers

90 T.J. WATT · 6-4 · 252

Watt’s five-year NFL career progression: all-rookie team, to Pro Bowler, to third in Defensive Player of the Year balloting, to second in DPOY balloting to winning DPOY. What’s on tap for Year 6?

56 ALEX HIGHSMITH · 6-4 · 242

Highsmith has become a more-than-adequate starter over the first two years of his career. But can he take the next step? Outside linebackers are supposed to be stars for the Steelers.

49 GENARD AVERY· 6-0 · 250

Lack of depth at this position hurt the Steelers at times last season, and Avery was signed to be a reliable reserve option. He has started 17 games over four pro seasons with the Browns and Eagles.

48 DERREK TUSZKA · 6-5 · 246

Tuszka probably played too much last season on defense (247 snaps) after arriving via a waiver-claim practice squad signing in September. But he is a dependable special-teamer.

53 TUZAR SKIPPER · 6-3 · 246

The darling of the 2019 Steelers training camp as a rookie tryout who went on to record five sacks in four preseason games, Skipper’s circuitous NFL career has brought him back to Pittsburgh.

50 DELONTAE SCOTT · 6-5 · 246

A productive pass rusher in college, Scott made his NFL debut in 2021 with seven snaps played during a loss at the Chargers. If Scott is good enough in camp, he could crack the 53-man roster.

44 TYREE JOHNSON · 6-4 · 240

An undrafted rookie from Texas A&M who was referred to as an “explosive edge talent” by the NFL’s official website, Johnson faces questions about his coverage and run-stopping abilities.

46 T.D. MOULTRY · 6-2 · 253

After playing more games for Auburn (59) than anyone in history, Moultry joined the Steelers as an undrafted free agent. He doesn’t have prototypical size for a Steelers OLB but perhaps can show special-teams value.

Inside linebackers

55 DEVIN BUSH · 5-11 · 234

After the Steelers declined his fifth-year option for 2023, Bush’s career is at a crossroads. It seems unlikely he will ever live up to the hype of a top-10 pick, but can he earn a new contract?

51 MYLES JACK · 6-1 · 255

Jack makes it five ILB veterans in five years brought in since the career-ending injury to Ryan Shazier. Can Jack last more than one season, unlike all the others?

41 ROBERT SPILLANE · 6-1 · 229

Spillane probably is best-suited to be a quality No. 3 ILB. Other than being a backup at two spots, he has shown the ability to excel in a subpackage role.

Steelers 2022 training camp positional breakdowns

• Offense • Defense • Specialists

45 BUDDY JOHNSON · 6-2 · 240

Coach Mike Tomlin loves referencing the leap that players make in their second NFL season. A fourth-round pick last year, that would mean knocking on the door for meaningful playing time for Johnson in Year 2.

27 MARCUS ALLEN · 6-2 · 215

The converted safety from Penn State is a favorite of the coaches for his special-teams play and locker-room presence. Allen never will be an everydown linebacker, but he continues to carve out a niche.

54 ULYSEES GILBERT III · 6-0 · 230

After injuries limited him in his first two seasons, Gilbert appeared in all 18 of the Steelers’ games last season. He led the team in special-teams snaps, a sign of his value.

93 MARK ROBINSON · 5-11 · 235

A converted FCS running back who was an improbable starter at linebacker in the SEC last year at Ole Miss, Robinson was worth a flier as a sixth-round pick. At the least, he’s seemingly made for special teams.

Cornerbacks

20 CAMERON SUTTON · 5-11 · 188

Sutton’s role has grown to the point he was on the field for 99% of the defensive snaps last season, his fifth with the Steelers but first of a new two-year contract extension. Can he earn another extension?

29 LEVI WALLACE · 6-0 · 179

After starting all 52 games he played for winning Bills teams over the past four years, Wallace joined the Steelers via a two-year, $8 million contract to be one of their top outside cornerbacks.

25 AHKELLO WITHERSPOON · 6-2 · 195

Witherspoon was given an identical deal as Wallace (down to the $2.965 million bonus) this spring after an odd 2021 that saw him signing with the Seahawks, traded to the Steelers, getting benched — but being a steady starter by the end.

35 ARTHUR MAULET · 5-10 · 190

Playing on a one-year contract last season, Maulet showed adaptability to play different spots in the Steelers defense. He was rewarded with a two-year deal this spring, presumably to again fill a subpackage role.

42 JAMES PIERRE · 6-2 · 185

Last year at this time, Pierre was viewed as an up and coming player who possibly could replace Joe Haden long term. A disappointing audition early in the season, though, relegated him well down the depth chart. He stands out on special teams, though.

31 JUSTIN LAYNE · 6-2 · 192

In his fourth season, Layne hasn’t developed the way the Steelers hoped when they made him a third-round pick. This is likely his last chance if he wants a role on defense or a future with the team.

40 LINDEN STEPHENS · 6-0 · 193

Stephens has appeared in 16 games over four seasons since being an undrafted free agent, but none since 2020. Last October, the Steelers became the eighth NFL team he joined.

26 CHRIS STEELE · 6-1 · 190

Steele was a big-time recruit who ended up at USC and left college with eligibility remaining. He went undrafted, but the Steelers probably see the raw tools and figured he was worth a shot.

30 CARLINS PLATEL · 6-1 · 205

Signed off a tryout at rookie minicamp, Platel played one season at South Carolina after transferring from Division II Assumption. He mostly played the nickel (slot) for the Gamecocks.

Safeties

39 MINKAH FITZPATRICK · 6-1 · 207

Armed with a new $73.6 million contract that made him the NFL’s highest-paid safety, can Fitzpatrick again attain All-Pro status in 2022? He was first-team his first two seasons with the Steelers but not last year.

34 TERRELL EDMUNDS · 6-1 · 217

Early last year, the Steelers declined a 2022 option for Edmunds that would have paid him $6.75 million. The decision proved wise when this April he re-signed for $2.5 million. The former first-rounder a perfectly fine starting strong safety.

24 DAMONTAE KAZEE · 5-11 · 174

Signed in May for $1.048 million, Kazee was taking first-team reps at OTAs a couple of weeks later. That was because Fitzpatrick sat out drills, but it still showed how high Kazee was on the depth chart.

21 TRE NORWOOD · 6-0 · 194

He had one of the most productive seasons in Steelers history for a rookie seventh-round pick and showed the versatility he was thought to have. But Norwood’s role in 2022 is unknown.

28 MILES KILLEBREW · 6-2 · 222

Killebrew blocked two punts last season, providing enough value on those two plays alone to make the $1.127 million investment in him worthwhile. A trusted core special-teamer, Killebrew also had a small role on defense.

38 KARL JOSEPH · 5-10 · 200

A former first-round pick from WVU, Joseph spent most of last season on the Steelers practice squad. At 29 years old by the season opener, he is not an NFL starter anymore. But can he stick on the roster?

37 DONOVAN STINER · 6-2 · 210

A multiyear starter at Florida, Stiner signed as a priority undrafted free agent last year and stuck on the practice squad all season. Known as a good tackler, the Steelers are clearly intrigued by Stiner’s skillset.

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