Steelers Name Two ILB Replacements
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers need inside linebacker depth after losing Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb for the season in back-to-back weeks. But instead of looking for a splash signing, the staff is looking inward for replacements and have two in mind for this week.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said the Steelers will not look outside the team for help but rather address their concern with practice squad additions. Tomlin mentioned two players who he anticipates being called up in Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns. Those players will be Tariq Carpenter and Mykal Walker.
"We have guys we're comfortable with," Tomlin said. "We've kind of been forward-thinking in the acquisition with some of our people. Some of our practice guys are there not because they're developmental players. They're there because they're capable players that are just readying themselves for an opportunity."
Marching into the week with a young and new inside linebacker room, Tomlin said he's "excited to do so, to be quite honest with you."
Walker started 12 games last season for the Atlanta Falcons, recording 107 tackles and two interceptions. The former fourth-round pick said he's ready to add more "experience and versatility" to the team's inside linebacker room this week.
"I've done it before. I've had the green dot before. I've played games, I've played in big games," Walker said. "Just my experience that I have out there and being able to call upon the coaching staff anytime I have it. I'm gonna ask questions all day long. [There's] never a guy in the locker room who think he knows everything. More certain for seeking for help, seeking for answers and stuff like that. I think what I bring to this room is experience and more versatility."
Carpenter made his NFL debut in Week 10 against the Green Bay Packers and recorded a tackle on special team. The undrafted rookie out of Georgia Tech made the switch from safety to inside linebacker and highlighted Steelers linebackers coach Aaron Curry as a major help in his transition.
"I've been preparing," Carpenter said. "I've been here since the beginning of the season and coach [Aaron] Curry has been doing a great job of just trying to teach me the position, knowing that I'm new to it. I've been doing a real good job of picking things up, so I'll be ready."
The Steelers currently have an open roster spot and will have two once they place Kwon Alexander on Injured Reserve. They could sign both players to their 53-man roster as a corresponding move with Alexander's loss.
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