Steelers defensive call-ups Myles Jack, Eric Rowe save the day

Their acquisitions by the Pittsburgh Steelers officially were announced jointly on the team website at 4:03 p.m. on Nov. 20. That they were joining the team’s practice squad wasn’t mentioned until the sixth paragraph .

The final, sad indignity in the proud careers of Myles Jack and Eric Rowe, two players who’d combined for 15 NFL seasons, 203 regular-season games, two Super Bowl rings, more than 1,000 tackles? Was this the way their careers were going to end — signed off the street to play out the string on a practice squad?

Not at all. Less than five weeks later, Jack and Rowe played prominent roles in a big Steelers win that saved their season.

Making their 2023 NFL regular-season debuts, Rowe and Jack combined for 13 tackles, a sack and an interception in the Steelers 33-11 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday evening.

“It’s necessary and appreciated,” coach Mike Tomlin said of the play of the bevy of “fill-ins” at inside linebacker and safety, particularly Rowe and Jack. “It’s been a challenge readying these guys, but kudos to them. It’s also a thoughtful acquisition of veteran players. The size of the practice squad today, the fact that you can have veteran players on it, we just positioned ourselves for the attrition component of play, and (I) can’t say enough about contributions from those guys.”

Rowe had seven tackles (three solo) and an interception in his first NFL game of consequence since playing for the Miami Dolphins in a wild-card playoff loss in January.

Jack had six tackles (three solo), a sack and an additional QB hit in his first meaningful NFL game since the Steelers’ Jan. 8, 2023, regular-season finale from the 2022 season.

“I am not in midseason form like the rest of these guys,” Jack said after the game. “Broke some good sweats, probably got to my second, third, fourth wind. But I made it through. I’ll get a good nap in tonight.”

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Jack, a second-round pick of Jacksonville in 2016, announced his retirement late in the preseason after spending a few weeks of training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles. Rowe, who’s played for the Eagles, New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins since entering the league in 2015, was cut by the Carolina Panthers at the end of their preseason.

“You can do all the running you want, but game shape is (different)” Rowe said. “The only way to do it is be in the game — we use preseason games to kind of get it rolling, but we are in December and there’s no time for that. I was tired, first game back, but that will come along.”

Rowe was needed because the Steelers’ top four safeties were unavailable — Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee injury), Dmaontae Kazee (suspension), Keanu Neal (on injured reserve, ribs) and Trenton Thompson (neck injury).

Rowe started and played the entire game as part of a safety duo with Patrick Peterson, a purported cornerback.

Jack was signed after season-ending injuries to co-starters at inside linebacker Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb left only Elandon Roberts as a starting-caliber ILB. Mark Robinson is also at the position, and veteran Mykal Walker was another in-season addition.

But Roberts suffered a pectoral injury during the first half and did not return. Expected to be a mere reinforcement at his position, suddenly Jack was an every-down player in his season debut.

“It feels good. It was definitely good to be back,” said Jack, who spent last season with the Steelers. “Good to be back with the team the guys, hearing ‘Renegade’ again, hearing the crowd, the towels going. It was a fun thing to be a part of.”

Roberts status

Tomlin shed little light on the severity of Roberts’ injury other than to say he would update media during his weekly news conference Tuesday. Roberts’ arm was in a sling while he was in the locker room after the game. Jack said Roberts was getting an MRI.

There were no other known injuries suffered during the game.

Walker rebounds

Walker led the Steelers in total tackles (eight) and solo tackles (five, tied) including a tackle for loss.

A starter with the Atlanta Falcons last season, Walker was signed Oct. 30 around when the Steelers’ injuries began to deteriorate their ILB corps.

“Just playing free, just playing for each other,” Walker said of the defense’s rebound from a 30-13 loss in Indianapolis last week. “That was the big communication on the sideline: ‘Make plays, play free , go out there and run around and hit.’ ”

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