Bevy of in-season signings hop on moving train for attrition-depleted Steelers defense

Early in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ three-day break between games last week, Blake Martinez received word he would be starting in his debut with the team. The veteran linebacker immediately recognized the borderline absurdity of his situation.

Fifteen days after signing, Martinez was going to be thrown into a significant role in the middle of the Steelers defense.

“Crazy,” Martinez said after that first game with the Steelers on Thursday. “That was my thing all week, ‘Wow, it’s been two weeks since I’ve been here, and now it’s go time.’ ”

That wasn’t the first time this season the Steelers were forced to have a recent acquisition take on heavy duty, particularly on defense. The man Martinez replaced as the starter at left inside linebacker, Mykal Walker, made his first appearance for the Steelers on Nov. 19 at Cleveland, 20 days after he had signed to the practice squad.

Outside linebacker Kyron Johnson, running back Godwin Igwebuike and cornerback Darius Rush also joined the team after the season started and have played minor roles on gamedays in recent weeks.

Two others — running back Qadree Ollison and inside linebacker Tariq Carpenter — have made brief appearances as practice-squad call-ups after being acquired after the preseason ended. And that doesn’t count safety Trenton Thompson, who has played a major role on the defense over the past month despite signing after camp began.

To put it in terms coach Mike Tomlin might use, attrition is a major component of life in the NFL. But for the Steelers defense this season, there seems to have been an inordinate number of players who have been forced to hop on the moving train.

“Any time you are jumping into a situation like that, it’s going to be challenging,” Walker said, “but, obviously, it’s a situation you dream of. When I was at home, I was praying to get the opportunity. So at the end of the day, yeah, it’s challenging, but it’s the opportunity I wanted.”

Walker was out of football for six days in late October after he had been cut by a third team over a three-month span.

Less than three weeks later, he was starting for the Steelers. In the loss to New England on Thursday, Walker had an interception and return deep into Patriots territory.

Here’s the #Steelers INT from Mykal Walker that was forced by Elandon Roberts. pic.twitter.com/HwKZEYcgbK

— Rob G (@NFL_Rob) December 8, 2023

“I was just in the right spot,” Walker said.

He is seeking that “right spot” for his career, one that had him starting for the Atlanta Falcons for most of last season but now has him desiring a long-term home.

“It’s such a big mental battle at this level,” Walker said. “People don’t realize how much of a mental toll it takes to be at this level and be on a new team and try to join in, so for me it’s trying to stay mentally ready. So I like to go out there and perform and make plays, but that starts with mental preparedness.”

Johnson knows the feeling. As a rookie last season, he appeared in 15 of the NFL champion Philadelphia’s 17 regular-season games. But he was relegated to the Eagles’ practice squad early this season until he was cut Oct. 3 and signed to the Steelers practice squad seven days later.

Johnson’s contributions in two games have been limited to special teams. But with starting outside linebackers Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt in concussion protocol, Johnson is aware that he is on the verge of being that next man up.

That’s how Martinez, Walker and Carpenter got their shot with the Steelers: season-ending injuries to starting inside linebackers Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander.

“It’s tough trying to fit in with a new team like this so fast in the middle of a season, but it just feels good to be on a roster and playing,” Johnson said.

“If you feel like you don’t fit in, you are just working. You aren’t trying to step on anybody’s toes, but, at the same time, it’s like you’ve got to step on toes. You’ve got to be out there every day working to stand out.”

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