Steelers signing former Browns, Eagles LB Genard Avery to 1-year deal
To bolster the depth at outside linebacker, the Pittsburgh Steelers are signing veteran Genard Avery, formerly of the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, to a one-year contract.
Avery, who turns 27 in April, was a fifth-round pick of the Browns in 2018 out of Memphis. He will compete for a backup job behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
Avery started 12 games and played in 16 last season with the Eagles. He had one sack, four tackles for loss and 43 tackles while playing 34% of the defensive snaps.
Avery’s five previous career starts came in his rookie season with the Browns in 2018. He had 4.5 sacks, four passes defensed, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. But Avery only appeared in two games with the Browns the following season before he was traded to the Eagles for a fourth-round draft pick. He appeared in 10 games in 2019 and 11 the following year, starting none.
Derrek Tuszka and Taco Charlton were the top backups last season after the Steelers released veteran Melvin Ingram. Charlton is a free agent, and Tuszka will enter his second season with the team. The Steelers also have veteran John Simon on the roster.
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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