Going into their preseason matchup, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a last-minute roster transaction. They signed linebacker Elandon Roberts to rejoin the team after being away for a year. On the same note, they placed Logan Lee on injured reserve after the former draft pick missed their entire training camp to date.
Not only did he miss practices in Latrobe, but he couldn't suit up for the first preseason game.
With Lee now on injured reserve, the Steelers will have to wait another year to see if the defensive tackle has any shot at redeeming his career. This will be the second time he misses an entire year on injured reserve, the first being during his rookie season. It was clear that Lee had a path to the roster this summer, but after another injury setback, this could put his career in limbo.
One season-ending injury can be marked off as an odd occurrence. Having it happen twice within the span of three years is a problem. He was their sixth-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, but that value isn't paying off. Even when Lee has been healthy enough to be on the field, he has produced much as a depth player. This latest setback could be the beginning of the end for him.
Pittsburgh Steelers DT Logan Lee being out with an injury could put his career at risk
Taking Lee off the board as a potential roster contender makes the ongoing battle in the trenches clearer. Expect the Steelers to hold six or seven players along the defensive line. Without Logan Lee in the fold, you could argue there are two job openings up for grabs. All of Dean Lowry, Gabriel Rubio, Esezi Otomewo, and others will battle for that spot. It's still a crowded group, but not as much as before.
After missing his rookie season due to injury, Lee was able to secure a roster spot last year. He earned a vacancy as a depth player along the trenches, but he never found a way to gain more of a role than that. During his lone season of NFL action, the defensive tackle only appeared in seven games and never started. All of that for two tackles on his official stat sheet.
With how the current top decision-makers think, Lee should anticipate more competition coming next year.
Omar Khan loves to draft both offensive and defensive linemen, and that could happen once again in the 2027 NFL Draft. If that does, Lee's chances of making the roster next preseason only deteriorate further. His chances of sticking around are slim.
Not being able to participate in training camp is a bummer for the veteran. He should've been able to take the next step in his progression as a player for the Steelers. Instead, the defender is now looking at another year where he remains off the field and out of the spotlight. He was only a sixth-round draft pick, and it seems like if his career is done in Pittsburgh, it could be over in general.
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