Steelers Re-Sign Stevenson Sylvester, Release Kion Wilson

Jun 11, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Kion Wilson (48) participates in drills during minicamp at the UPMC Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers shook up their depth chart at inside linebacker earlier today when they released Kion Wilson and re-signed Stevenson Sylvester according to the team’s Twitter feed.

The release of Wilson did not come as a surprise to me. The veteran was actually demoted to second-string at the “buck” inside linebacker position earlier this week after he was the team’s “co-starter” with rookie Vince Williams for much of September.

With Williams now the starter, Pittsburgh’s coaching staff elected to go in a different direction for depth at the position and re-signed their fifth round pick from the 2010 NFL Draft in the form of Sylvester.

The former Utah Ute should provide the Steelers with some much-needed help on special teams. In addition, Sylvester should give the team some emergency depth at a position which he is at least familiar with since he spent the first three seasons of his professional career with Pittsburgh.

Released during the preseason after he was beaten out by Williams, Wilson, Larry Foote, and Terence Garvin, the next 12 games will be an important audition for the fourth-year inside linebacker. Sylvester has a golden opportunity to prove to the franchise that he is worth re-signing after the 2013 campaign to a new contract, so it will be interesting to see if he can take advantage of this recent turn of events.

Stats & Contract Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com , Spotrac, and Pro Football Reference

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