The corresponding move from Pittsburgh’s Eli Rogers activation will be key. Marcus Gilbert‘s season will come to a close.
The eighth-year right tackle will head to the Steelers’ IR list, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets. Gilbert has been dealing with a knee injury and has not played since October.
Matt Feiler has filled in for Gilbert, and while the former UDFA has not been quite on the level of Gilbert at full strength, the replacement has played well. Pro Football Focus has graded Feiler as its No. 39 overall tackle this season.
Unavailability has been an issue for Gilbert in recent years. Injury and suspension trouble limited him to seven games last season, and Pittsburgh saw his 2017 replacement, Chris Hubbard, defect to Cleveland in free agency. Gilbert returned to his right-edge post this year but only got in five games before the knee problem sidelined him in mid-October.
While the 30-year-old blocker is under contract for the 2019 season, his issues staying on the field may put the Steelers to a decision this offseason.
The team could save nearly $5MM by releasing Gilbert, the Steelers’ starting right tackle since his 2011 rookie season. That said, the top-tier right tackle is only in line to count $6.6MM toward the Steelers’ cap. The Steelers are also projected to hold $28MM-plus in cap space, potentially allowing them to keep Gilbert on the books and see if he can re-establish his previous form. But after the troubles the former second-round pick has experienced the past two years, that won’t be a lock.
Gilbert is done as a Steeler. He’s solid enough when he’s in the lineup, but he never is. Meanwhile Feiler has been pretty good filling in, and Chuks Okorafor is being groomed to possibly take over down the road, he even got a start this year when Feiler couldn’t go. Gilbert should catch on elsewhere next year, but I will be surprised if it’s in Pittsburgh.
Well said, I agree. Cut him, save some cap space, and go spend it on defense