Steelers add running back depth, sign Kalen Ballage to 1-year contract
Kalen Ballage is on his fourth team in four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers signing the 25-year-old running back to a one-year contract Tuesday.
Ballage, who is listed at 6-foot-2, 231 pounds, spent last season with the New York Jets and Los Angeles Chargers after playing two years with the Miami Dolphins.
Ballage combined to make two starts and appeared in 11 games last season when he rushed for 303 yards and scored two touchdowns. He also caught 29 passes for 166 yards.
A fourth-round draft pick in 2018 out of Arizona State, Ballage started six games for the Dolphins in 2019 and played in 24 games over his first two NFL seasons in Miami. The Dolphins attempted to trade Ballage to the Jets near the end of the 2020 training camp, but the deal was voided when Ballage failed his physical.
The Jets then signed Ballage on Sept. 15 but waived him Oct. 5. He surfaced on the Chargers practice four days later and eventually was signed to the active roster.
Ballage played special teams with the Dolphins and could find a role there with the Steelers. He will join a running back room that includes Benny Snell, Anthony McFarland, Jaylen Samuels and Trey Edmunds. His signing won’t preclude the Steelers from taking a running back on the first or second day of the NFL Draft.
The Steelers also announced the signing of former Chicago Bears offensive lineman Rashaad Coward to a one-year contract.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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