Steelers activate Stefen Wisniewski from IR, place Ulysees Gilbert on it
The Pittsburgh Steelers activated veteran interior offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski off the injured reserve list Wednesday. The team placed second-year inside linebacker Ulysees Gilbert on IR in his place.
Wisniewski signed with the Steelers this spring prior to his 10th NFL season. He’d started at guard for two of the past three Super Bowl winners and was added to serve as a versatile and reliable backup at center and both guard spots.
Wisniewski started in place of right guard David DeCastro during the season opener at the New York Giants, but he suffered a chest injury late in that contest and was placed on IR. Wisniewski has been practicing with the team for the past three weeks, and Wednesday was the final day of a 21-day window the Steelers had to activate him.
Rookie fourth-round pick Kevin Dotson, who performed well in starting two games, played in Wisniewski’s place. The Steelers might elevate Dotson ahead of Wisniewski on the depth chart in the case of another injury.
Wisniewski did not take part in the Steelers’ light practice Wednesday.
Three-hundred sixty-five days after his rookie season ended with an IR designation because of a back injury, Gilbert again went on IR because of back injury that cropped up last week.
A 2019 sixth-round pick, Gilbert was thought to be in the running to serve as the top backup at inside linebacker this season, but Robert Spillane was given that role. Spillane has started the past two games since Devin Bush suffered a season-ending knee injury.
The Steelers on Monday announced the acquisition of veteran inside linebacker Avery Williamson via trade with the New York Jets. Williamson’s addition all but makes Gilbert’s role obsolete on defense, but Gilbert had been a core special-teamer over his nine career regular-season games.
Gilbert played 14 defensive snaps during a 27-24 win at the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 25. Those are the only defensive snaps he has played in his career.
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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