Tim Benz: Unless Steelers have a better option, don't give in to Melvin Ingram's trade request

I apologize. You’ve read this Steelers column from me before. I first wrote it on Aug. 9.

Three days earlier, ESPN reports surfaced stating that wide receiver James Washington had asked for a trade.

My belief back then was that the Steelers shouldn’t acquiesce to Washington’s request because he’s a good player, who offers affordable value against the salary cap, but would yield very little in return from another team.

Plus, if JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool or Diontae Johnson got hurt for any extended period, his presence on the depth chart would come in handy.

While Washington only had eight snaps last week, his availability with Smith-Schuster likely done for the year could still pay dividends.

Now that outside linebacker Melvin Ingram III is apparently asking for a trade, too, the Steelers should employ the same approach. The disgruntled player doesn’t need to be made happy by general manager Kevin Colbert with a plane ticket out of town.

Ingram just needs to fulfill the job he’s been acquired to do.

Unless there is some sort of extreme personal issue or emergency afoot with Ingram, the Steelers shouldn’t feel obligated to trade him just because he’s allegedly unhappy.

Over the past few days, multiple reports from the NFL Network have been that Ingram has become disillusioned with his role in Pittsburgh because of a decrease in playing time.

As @RapSheet reported this weekend, OLB Melvin Ingram does indeed want out of Pittsburgh after seeing a reduction in his playing time. I’m told KC made an offer, but the #Steelers ideally don’t want to send him to an AFC team. Could the #Cardinals make a good trade partner?

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) October 28, 2021

Frankly, that dip only occurred in the Seattle Seahawks game before the bye. That’s when Ingram only played 26% of the defensive snaps after being on the field 60% of the time against the Denver Broncos the week before and playing 100% of the snaps in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

But T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are healthy now, after battling groin injuries earlier in the season. Ingram was signed before training camp this year to back up both of them. So, naturally, given that they are finally able to absorb full-time starting minutes, Ingram is going to see less time on the field.

This is, presumably, the role Ingram was told he’d be filling.

There are only two reasons why Ingram should have a reason to be chapped about finding himself third on the outside linebacking depth chart.

• If he was promised more playing time than he is getting, regardless of the health of Watt and Highsmith.

• If he believes he has outperformed Highsmith to this point and should be elevated to the starter opposite Watt.

Given Highsmith’s injury and ineffectiveness late in the preseason and over the first few weeks of the regular season, Ingram may have had a point a few weeks ago. Plus, Ingram was disruptive in the season opener against the Buffalo Bills, and he had a sack in Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Since then, though, Ingram has racked up just five total tackles, no sacks and two quarterback hits in the last four games. That’s over the course of 135 defensive snaps.

As far as what Ingram was promised when he was signed, who knows? James Harrison also complained about what he was promised in terms of playing time versus the role he was given after re-signing with the franchise before the 2017 season.

Harrison eventually sulked his way into being released. Perhaps Ingram is reading from the same playbook before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

The Steelers should call Ingram’s bluff. Whatever return the organization will get for Ingram will be minimal.

Furthermore, whoever the Steelers elevate to replace him will be insufficient. Derek Tuszka has managed just two tackles in two games with the team, and Taco Charlton has yet to be elevated from the practice squad.

Sure, Ingram could wind up being a distraction like Harrison was toward the end of his tenure with the Steelers. Maybe they could fine Ingram or stash him on the suspended list if Ingram decides to go that route. Or, the trade deadline could come and go, and Ingram could realize he’s stuck here. Therefore, if he wants a better situation next year, he should just keep quiet and play as hard as he can.

That’s the play I’d make. As disappointing as Ingram has been, he’s still better than the alternative at the position if one of the starters goes down for an extended stretch.

To be clear, that alternative is pretty much nothing.

That approach has worked with Washington. I’m sure he’s not thrilled with his current circumstances either. But he has kept quiet since that reported flurry of disenchantment in August. The Steelers should hope for the same end game with Ingram.

Or they should find someone better elsewhere.

At this stage of the season, good luck with that.