Steelers sign OLB Ade Ogundeji to practice squad after losing Jacoby Windmon to Panthers

Chris Adamski
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 11:28 a.m. | Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 11:28 a.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Ade Ogundeji, left, joins on a tackle of Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers during this past Sunday’s game. Ogundeji has since been released off the active roster and signed to the practice squad.

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost outside linebacker Jacoby Windmon to the Carolina Panthers, replacing him on their practice squad with a veteran who played a significant role for them in their most recent game.

The Panthers plucked Windmon off the Steelers’ practice squad Tuesday, a day after the Steelers released Ade Ogundeji off their active roster and two days after Ogundeji had made his Steelers debut in a win at the Las Vegas Raiders.

Ogundeji had been promoted to the active roster Saturday after he had spent the first six weeks of the regular season on the practice squad. Ogundeji served as the No. 3 outside linebacker against the Raiders, playing 16 snaps during a game in which the Steelers were without three at the position (Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, DeMarvin Leal) because of injury. Highsmith, though, is on track to return for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets after a three-game absence because of a groin injury.

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To address the attrition at outside linebacker, the Steelers turned to Ogundeji and Eku Leota from their practice squad. The one OLB on the practice squad they did not deploy in Sunday’s game was Windmon, but the Panthers apparently view the rookie from Michigan State as game-ready. They signed him to their active roster Tuesday.

Signed as an undrafted free agent, Windmon made plays during training camp but was not put on the season-opening practice squad. He spent 13 in-season days with the Steelers.

Ogundeji’s action Sunday was his first NFL game since the finale of the 2022 season. Ogundeji played 32 games and started 27 for the Atlanta Falcons in 2021-22.

Also added to the Steelers’ practice squad Wednesday was Craig Young, an undrafted rookie inside linebacker from Kansas. Young spent training camp and the preseason with the Indianapolis Colts but was part of their cuts before Week 1.

Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.