The Steelers have activated safety Damontae Kazee from injured reserve and placed kicker Chris Boswell on injured reserve, the team announced Thursday.
Kazee returns after missing the first eight games with a broken forearm. The safety noted that he had nine screws put in his forearm and had his dislocated wrist reduced during surgery. It is a return that should versatility and flexibility return to the back end of Pittsburgh’s secondary.
Meanwhile, Boswell will miss an extended period of time with a right groin injury. He was out against the Philadelphia Eagles, but must now miss the next four games while recovering from the injury. In the meantime, the Steelers signed Matthew Wright to the 53-man roster. So, Wright will get an extended look while Boswell is down.
The Steelers are still expecting more help, too. While they currently sit at 53 players on their active roster, it is expected that T.J. Watt will be activated on Saturday. In order to do that, the Steelers will have to release one player from the active roster. Regardless, it appears that the Steelers’ defense is getting a bit healthier after the bye week.
Damontae Kazee brings an element of versatility to Pittsburgh’s big nickel package that they hope to exploit in his return. He is likely to be on somewhat of a snap count in his first game action, but it will be interesting to see how the Steelers mix and match their personnel.