The Steelers announced that they have placed linebacker Steve Johnson on IR. To take his spot, the team will re-sign L.J. Fort to the 53-man roster.
In the spring, Johnson signed a one-year minimum salary deal with Pittsburgh and has been yo-yo’d around by the Steelers ever since. While he wasn’t a key part of the Steelers’ defense this year, he was a cog on special teams and the team will have to replace him in the wake of his ankle injury. Johnson, 28, spent his first three NFL seasons in Denver before playing in Tennessee in 2015.
Fort, a five-year veteran, played in seven games for the Steelers this season. He was dropped from the roster last week to make room for the activation of Ladarius Green. The 26-year-old has appeared in seven games for the Steelers this season and has 24 total NFL games on his resume. Prior to joining the Steelers last year, Fort had stints with the Browns (2012) and one game with the Seahawks (2014).