Lengthy Steelers DL Willington Previlon Needs to Outperform Peers in Training Camp to Secure Practice Squad Spot
The Pittsburgh Steelers added Willington Previlon via waivers in June to bolster the bottom part of their defensive line depth. With a majority of their defensive line being solidified before training camp begins, it leaves guys like Previlon in a sticky situation.
The reason that Previlon finds himself in a rough situation in Pittsburgh is because there are at least eight guys that are or are expecting to be apart of the Steelers defensive line rotation in 2024. Those include Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Larry Ogunjobi, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Dean Lowry, DeMarvin Leal, Logan Lee and Adams.
With the Steelers typically only carrying six defensive lineman into the season, it even leaves that group with a few odd men out. The Steelers currently have 12 defense lineman on their offseason 90-man roster and will trim that in half by the time the season starts.
With likely three guys headed there from that group of nine and Jonathan Marshall who spent all season on the practice squad, it makes the dash for a spot on the practice squad a rapid one for guys like Previlon and Jacob Slade.
Regardless, Previlon will be given the chance to showcase his talents in front of the Steelers coaches in Latrobe when camp opens later this week. If he can outperform his peers, Previlon could be a practice squad candidate. Until he proves it, the signing of Previlon appears just as a roster filler type of move.
The things that are going in Previlon’s direction in regard to making the Steelers 53-man roster is his 7-foot wingspan and his experience in the league. While he has not recorded a regular season snap, Previlon has been bouncing around practice squads since 2020. This means coaches like having him around and it should not shock anybody if he sneaks onto the practice squad in 2024.
72 • Willington Previlon, Defensive Tackle, Rutgers
6-foot-5, 287 pounds, 27 years old, 5th Season
Acquired: The Steelers claimed Willington Previlon off of the Atlanta Falcons waivers on June 21, 2024.
Last season: Willington Previlon started the 2023 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was released by the Buccaneers and later picked up by the Dallas Cowboys.
Career: After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers signed Willington Previlon as an undrafted free agent. He stayed with the Packers until the 2021 season when they terminated his practice squad contract. He was picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was off-and-on with the Bucs until last year.
The 6-foot-5, 285-pound defensive lineman played in three preseason games with the Packers in 2021 and and three each with the Buccaneers in 2022 and 2023. In nine games, he has recorded seven tackles and two quarterback hurries. He split his time between three-technique and five-technique, according to Pro Football Focus.
Previlon has yet to make his NFL debut in the regular season and over four seasons only been on practice squads.
| Year | GP | Def. Snaps | Tackles | Sacks | Pressures | FFs |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
College: Pegged as a three-star recruit out of high school, Willington Previlon committed to Rutgers University. He arrived on campus in 2015 and was placed on a redshirt. He saw no game action in 2015. In his redshirt freshman season, Previlon did not appear in any games either.
In 2017, Previlon finally cracked Rutgers’ defensive line rotation as he appeared in all 12 of their games and started four at defensive tackle. He tallied 13 combined tackles, one for a loss, one sack and two defended passes.
As a redshirt junior, Previlon played in more of a rotational role along the defensive line as he appeared in all 12 games but started just two games. He finished the season with 23 tackles, three tackles for a loss and two sacks.
In 2019, Previlon finally achieved full-time starting reps at defensive tackle. He started all 12 games for the Scarlet Knights at defensive tackle as a redshirt senior. He tallied a career-high 35 combined tackles and 7.5 tackles for a loss. Additionally, he added one sack and one defended pass. Previlon earned All-Big Ten honorable mention nominations following the season.
Over his five seasons as a Scarlet Knight, Previlon appeared in 36 games and started 18 of them, all at defensive tackle. He logged 71 combined tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks and three defended passes.
| Year | GP | Tackles | TFLs | Sacks | PDs |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 12 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2018 | 12 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | 12 | 35 | 7.5 | 1 | 1 |
Salary cap and future: Since the Steelers claimed Willington Previlon off of waivers, he is signed for just one season, making him a free agent following the 2024 NFL season. If he makes the team, Previlon will cost $795,000 against the team’s cap space in 2024.
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