The Pittsburgh Steelers signed safety Jalen Elliott and waived/injured wide receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley in advance of their training-camp practice at Saint Vincent on Tuesday.
Elliott (6-foot, 210 pounds) has eight games (one start) of NFL regular-season experience, all with the Detroit Lions in 2021. Undrafted out of Notre Dame in 2020, Elliott also has spent time on the offseason roster or practice squad of the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders. He generally is considered more of a free safety but also capable of playing in the box or as a nickel/slot.
Bradley has been with the Steelers since joining the practice squad last November. He has eight NFL regular-season games of experience, all with the Cleveland Browns in 2020-21. Bradley had sat out Sunday’s practice because of an undisclosed injury.
Elliott was the second safety the Steelers signed over the past week, joining Trenton Thompson’s addition Aug. 2. Each was signed when a player at another position was cut or waived. The Steelers had seven safeties on the roster when camp began but are up to nine, in part because veterans Damontae Kazee, Keanu Neal and Tre Norwood are out because of injury.
Elliott’s first impression was not the best when early in Tuesday’s practice he was beaten badly on consecutive reps by receiver Hakeem Butler in a one-on-one tackling/elusiveness drill. Coach Mike Tomlin called for a rematch after Butler won the first matchup. Elliott tried to go low on the second attempt but Butler turned and spun out of the tackle, prompting Tomlin to say loudly, “Welcome to Pittsburgh, one-six,” referencing Elliott’s No. 16 jersey, “Welcome to Pittsburgh, baby.”
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