Steelers sign veteran safety Eric Rowe to practice squad

When Eric Rowe was one of the most highly rated safeties in advance of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers were among his pre-draft visits.

“I thought I was going to get drafted here,” Rowe said Monday, 8 1/2 years later. “But I guess Philly drafted me first, and however it worked out it worked out.”

Finally, though, this week Rowe became a Steeler.

Rowe was signed to the Steelers’ practice squad, he said Monday. The 31-year-old started 39 games the past four seasons for the Miami Dolphins but was let go in free agency and did not make the Carolina Panthers after spending training camp with them.

Rowe had been out of work since being released off the Panthers’ practice squad Sept. 19.

“I just worked out, a lot of family time, I stayed in shape,” Rowe said Monday from his new locker at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “And then I just watch football — I am a football fan, too, so just watching on Sundays, watching everybody, and I got the call. They asked if I was in shape, and I was like, ‘Yeah,’ and now I am here.”

Rowe is here in Pittsburgh because of an abundance of injuries at safety. All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick has missed the past three games because of a hamstring injury, co-starter Keanu Neal was placed on injured reserve Saturday because of a rib ailment and utility DB Elijah Riley went on IR on Monday because of an ankle injury suffered during Sunday’s loss at the Cleveland Browns.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Rowe played a variety of roles over 15 games (seven starts) — including playoffs — for Miami last season. According to Pro Football Focus, Rowe played almost as often as a slot corner as he did an in-the-box (strong) safety and also took dozens of snaps each as an outside corner and free safety.

Rowe has a lengthy and varied experience in the NFL: 100 games, 56 starts for three teams, including two Super Bowl rings from his time with the New England Patriots. That will aid in his transition to a new team — if he ever is called upon to play in a game.

“I mean, football is football,” Rowe said while taking a break studying the defense on a team-issued ipad Monday. “So it was really just me picking up the terminology that they use. A lot of defenses, they are generally the same rules — maybe slight (differences) here and there, just everybody has a different lingo. So really just picking it up so I can incorporate it into my mindset — ‘This is the call for Cover 3, this is a call for Cover 2.’ It’s football.”

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