Pittsburgh Steelers Subtract But Don’t Add To Defense At Trade Deadline

The Pittsburgh Steelers hoped to both add to and subtract from their defense at the NFL trade deadline.

However, it didn’t quite work out as planned Tuesday.

The Steelers traded outside linebacker Melvin Ingram, who had requested a trade following reduced snap counts, to the Kansas City Chiefs for a sixth-round pick in next year’s draft. Yet Pittsburgh was unable to add some needed depth for the defensive line.

Signed as a free agent in July, Ingram’s playing time dwindled in recent weeks because of the emergence of second-year pro Alex Highsmith. Ingram played just 17 snaps in a win over the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 24 then was heled out of last Sunday’s victory over the Browns in Cleveland for what was described as a groin injury.

It has been reported, though, that Ingram is healthy, and the Steelers made him inactive for that game so they would not jeopardize him possibly getting injured two days before the deadline.

Regardless, the 32-year-old Ingram wasn’t much of a factor during his short stint in Pittsburgh after spending the first nine seasons of his career with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and being selected to three Pro Bowls.

Ingram made only one start and had 10 tackles (two for loss) and one sack in six games.

However, signing Ingram did not bust the Steelers’ budget. His salary is $1,075,000 on a one-year contract with a cap hit of $597,222.

Ingram will get a chance to reset his season with the Chiefs, who need defensive help. The two-time defending AFC champions are allowing 27.5 points a game, which ranks 25^th among the NFL’s 32 teams.

“I enjoy working with Melvin,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday during his weekly press conference. “It just didn’t work out the way we envisioned, the way he envisioned. And sometimes it happens in free agency.”

The Steelers envisioned bolster the defensive line but came away empty. Though Pittsburgh has won three of four games to improve to 4-3 and move within one game of the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens (5-2), it is thin at tackle

Stephon Tuitt has yet to play this season as he recovers from knee surgery and the Steelers have not offered a timeline for a possible return. Carlos Davis (knee) was placed on injured reserve last week and will miss at least two more games.