Steelers place rookie ILB Ulysees Gilbert on injured reserve, ending his season
Inside linebacker Ulysees Gilbert’s rookie year is over at the midpoint of the Pittsburgh Steelers season.
Gilbert was placed on injured reserve Tuesday because of recurring back problems. Linebacker Robert Spillane was promoted from the practice squad to take Gilbert’s spot on the 53-man roster.
Gilbert missed the team’s game in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins because of a back issue, but he played 15 snaps on special teams Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
Gilbert appeared in seven games, playing exclusively on special teams. He did not have a defensive snap and had three tackles on special teams.
Coach Mike Tomlin brought up Gilbert’s injury earlier Tuesday at his weekly news conference but gave no indication that it would be season-ending.
Spillane signed with the Steelers in the offseason and began the year on the practice squad. He was waived on Sept. 24 but re-signed on Oct. 8. Spillane appeared in two games with the Tennessee Titans last season.
The Steelers also ended former Pitt running back Darrin Hall’s stay on the practice squad after one week. Hall was let go when the Steelers re-signed tight end Kevin Rader of Pine-Richland to the practice squad.
The Steelers also added wide receiver Terry Wright to the practice squad. Wright, an undrafted free agent from Purdue, was on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad until Oct. 18.
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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