Steelers place Stephon Tuitt on IR, bring back DE L.T. Walton

Defensive end Stephon Tuitt officially was placed on the reserve/injured list Tuesday by the Pittsburgh Steelers, effectively ending his season because of a pectoral injury he sustained Sunday night in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers.

To fill Tuitt’s spot on the 53-man roster, the Steelers have signed defensive lineman L.T. Walton, who became a free agent after the 2018 season. Walton was the Steelers’ sixth-round draft choice in 2015, and he played in 36 games over four seasons with the team.

Walton had 22 tackles (17 solo), two sacks and three passes defensed in his four years with the Steelers. He appeared in only four games last season as nose tackle Dan McCuller passed his on the depth chart. The Steelers did not attempt to re-sign Walton after the season, and he became a free agent.

Walton spent this past summer in training camp with the Buffalo Bills. He was released Aug. 31.

“He knows the defense, he knows what he’s supposed to do,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said Tuesday. “He’s not going to make mental mistakes, and he’ll help us in that regard.”

Walton was watching the game Sunday night on TV from his home in Houston.

“I kinda had a feeling it was a possibility, especially with me being here in the past and kind of understanding how things work around here,” Walton said. “I’m trying to put my hand in the pile and do the right thing.”

Walton will wear No. 95 in his second go-round with the Steelers. He wored No. 96 previously, but that number is now sported by rookie defensive end Isaiah Buggs.

“I’m minus-1,” Walton said, laughing about the new number. “We’re all good.”