Steelers place WR Calvin Austin, S Damontae Kazee on IR, bring back Marcus Allen, Trent Scott

Not content with upgrading one of their backup outside linebacker positions this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers brought back a former player to fill another Thursday.

Jamir Jones, who was lost on a waivers claim last season, was brought back via the same route, and he is replacing the player who took his place on the 53-man roster in 2021.

It was one of several moves made by the Steelers on Thursday. They placed rookie wide receiver Calvin Austin III and veteran safety Damontae Kazee on injured reserve and re-signed inside linebacker Marcus Allen and tackle Trent Scott to the 53-man roster.

The Steelers were awarded Jones on a waiver claim after he was let go Wednesday by the Jacksonville Jaguars. To make room for Jones on the 53-man roster, the Steelers waived outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka.

It was Tuszka who replaced Jones on the roster early last season. Jones appeared in three games for the Steelers after making the roster out of training camp, and he started in Week 3 because of an injury to T.J. Watt. But when the Steelers promoted Tuszka from the practice squad and tried to sneak Jones through waivers, the Los Angeles Rams claimed him. Later in the season, he was waived by the Rams and claimed by the Jaguars.

In total, Jones appeared in 15 games last season between the three teams. He had 10 tackles and no sacks.

In his second stint with the Steelers, Jones figures to slot in behind veteran Malik Reed, who was acquired from the Denver Broncos on Tuesday to be the main backup behind starters Watt and Alex Highsmith.

The Steelers signed Jones as an undrafted free agent in April 2021 after watching him perform at Notre Dame’s pro day. He left Notre Dame after the 2019 season and was signed by the Houston Texans the following spring.

Austin was one of seven wide receivers to make the opening 53-man roster. He did not appear in any preseason games after he injured his foot in the final practice in advance of the preseason opener against Seattle. The 5-foot-8 Austin was the team’s fourth-round draft pick out of Memphis.

“It’s been hard,” Austin said recently. “I definitely want to be out there with the guys. We went through training camp together, so I want to be with them, but they are keeping me positive and encouraging me.”

Kazee injured his forearm in the second half of the preseason finale against Detroit and was expected to be placed on injured reserve. He was expected to assume a big role in the Steelers defense as a third safety who would contribute in subpackages.

Players placed on injured reserve must miss a minimum of four weeks before they can return to the active roster. Teams can bring back eight players from injured reserve this season.

Allen did not appear in any preseason games because of a hamstring injury, although he had returned to practice by the time final roster moves were made. The return of Scott adds another depth piece at tackle.

Allen is entering his fifth NFL season with the Steelers. A former fifth-round pick from Penn State, Allen has appeared in 33 career games, including three starts. He was converted from safety to inside linebacker in 2020 and has been a core special teams contributor the past two seasons. He played a career-high 65% of the special teams snaps in 2021.

Scott is entering his first season with the Steelers. A fifth-year veteran, he spent the 2018-19 seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and the 2020-21 seasons with the Carolina Panthers. His position coach at both stops was Pat Meyer, who was hired by the Steelers to oversee the offensive line.

Scott has made 19 starts in 53 career games, including five last season with the Panthers. He is an option if the Steelers decide to replace Dan Moore at left tackle. Moore allowed sacks in each of the Steelers’ three preseason games.

The Steelers added three players to their practice squad, including cornerback Mark Gilbert. Gilbert was in training camp with the Steelers in 2021, but the Lions signed him to their active roster during the season and he appeared in eight games.

Also signed to the practice squad were tight end Justin Rigg and linebacker Chapelle Russell. Rigg was with the Cincinnati Bengals in training camp, and Russell is a former seventh-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Defensive end Henry Mondeaux, who was released Tuesday, signed with the New York Giants and will be part of their practice squad.