Former Steelers OLB Derrek Tuszka on Waivers

The Tennessee Titans have waived former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka, the team announced on Monday.

Tuszka was waived by the Steelers earlier this month after the team claimed Jamir Jones off waivers. Tennessee claimed Tuszka from the Steelers.

Since then, the Steelers lost starting outside linebacker T.J. Watt to a pectoral injury and have been searching for depth at the position. The Steelers signed David Anenih from the Titans’ practice squad, but he has been a healthy scratch for his first two games with Pittsburgh.

Delontae Scott has been a game day elevation from the practice squad in each of the last two weeks, but both he and Jones have played sparingly behind starters Alex Highsmith and Malik Reed.

The Steelers have not updated Watt’s status since his injury. He has missed two of the mandator four games he must spend on the injured reserve list. The Steelers have two sacks and have allowed 295 yards of rushing in two games without Watt.

The Steelers claimed Tuszka off waivers from the Denver Broncos in 2021 after losing Jones on waivers to the Los Angeles Rams. Tuszka played in the final 15 games of the 2021 season with Pittsburgh, recording 18 tackles, one tackle for loss, two quarterback hits and two sacks. Tuszka also played multiple special teams phases for the Steelers.

A South Dakota native, Tuszka played collegiately for five years at North Dakota State, where he won four national titles and was a unanimous FCS All-American in 2019. 

He was a seventh-round pick of the Broncos in the 2020 NFL Draft and split the 2020 season between the Denver practice squad, active roster and injured reserve list, playing in nine games while making six tackles.

The Titans signed Mario Edwards off the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad, with Tuszka being waived as the corresponding move.

Former Steelers outside linebackers Bud Dupree and Ola Adeniyi are both injured for the Titans. Pitt alum Rashad Weaver and Denico Autry are currently the starters in Tennessee.