The Steelers have all of their starting spots filled, but if an injury happens, these players will be on speed dial.
The Steelers are finally in training camp and that means a lot of outcomes could happen. Players are set to compete for their football lives in different capacities. Some will be trying for starting spots while others try and make the final openings on the roster.
One thing that has become a common occurrence is the wacky injuries that occur during the pre-season. It happens around the NFL and many teams are affected in different ways. The Steelers have had their scares in the past and that has caused many issues with finding replacements.
The hope is that those free agents on speed dial for Pittsburgh will not be needed anytime soon. The realistic thought is that injuries could and possibly will happen at either starting positions or depth pieces. These players would be good to fill in for both instances and even to bring in for upgrades right now.
The Steelers could add someone like Eric Fisher at tackle
Eric Fisher is still on the open market and the former number one overall pick is trying to find footing in the NFL again. He is getting older, but he can still provide reliable depth and an upgrade at the tackle position for the black and gold. He never truly lived up to the hype and has been battling injuries over the past couple of seasons.
This would be a wise addition for Pittsburgh, no matter if an injury occurs or not. They are very thin behind their starters with only Joe Haeg as the swing tackle. They need someone like Fisher to come in to play a depth role with previous starting experience in the league.
Trey Flowers could be a starter to the defensive line if someone gets hurt
This would be a signing more geared towards if something terrible would happen to Cam Heyward. If he would be lost to injury and the club needed a proven veteran, Trey Flowers should be the free agent getting the call. He has a ton of experience and is a proven starter in the league.
He started his career with the New England Patriots and had a great start to his career there. He has had three seasons in which he totaled seven sacks or more during that time. That led to him heading into free agency and signing with the Detroit Lions.
That marriage made sense at the time for both parties, but it never worked out. The worst years in his career have come with the Lions since his rookie campaign. That lack of production eventually forced the hands of Detroit’s front office and they had to let him go.
The Steelers will hope that they do not need this player anytime soon. They have some proven veteran guys on the roster now, but none that are proven in the league like Flowers. He would be somewhat of a gamble, but if injuries start to pile up, he would be a good option to call if you need a defensive lineman.
David Johnson could make a lot of sense for the Steelers
David Johnson was once one of the top running backs in the NFL, but that has quickly gone to the wayside. His time with the Arizona Cardinals was bountiful even though the decline was quick as he has become another example of why the position seems to become more and more replaceable. After many solid seasons in the desert, he would be traded to the Houston Texans in a shocking deal that saw DeAndre Hopkins go the other way.
Many thought that the Texans got fleeced in that deal, and they would be right. He has not been the same player since he got to Texas. His numbers have never eclipsed the thousand-yard mark and his team went to a run-by-committee approach last year.
This veteran is looking for an opportunity where he can rebound in the NFL. Right now, the Steelers only have Najee Harris as a legit starting option on the roster with little depth behind him. If the starter gets hurt for Pittsburgh, Johnson should be on speed dial.
He has a lot of experience at the position and can play in all phases that running back demands. Running the ball is one thing but being able to catch passes and block as well makes for solid backs. Even if there are no injuries, this player should get some attention for the black and gold.
Joe Haden would make a lot of sense to return if a starter gets hurt
Many Steelers fans have been holding onto hope that Joe Haden could potentially return to the Steelers at some point during the offseason. That does not seem to be a likely scenario as the team looks to stay young at the position. An injury could always change that mindset, even though you never want that to happen.
As we all know, injuries happen all the time in the NFL and at different moments. Staying prepared for those instances to happen is vital to the success of a team. The next man-up mentality is what has kept this club going in a competitive sense.
The Steelers would be wise to have Haden in the back of their minds after putting their trust into Ahkello Witherspoon and Levi Wallace during free agency. It is a surprise that Haden is still out on the open market waiting for his next opportunity.
A contending team will be the landing spot for this veteran cornerback. He has lost a step over the past two seasons and that could lead to bad play during his twilight years of his career. He might sign soon, and this could be the end of the road between the team and this player unless certain circumstances occur.
The Steelers seem fairly set up with their roster as it currently sits. They will need to keep getting better and they might need to figure things out in case an injury occurs at camp.