Steelers Transactions

Steelers Expected to Sign Veteran OL after Daniels Injury

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to sign veteran offensive lineman Max Scharping after losing James Daniels to a season-ending injury.

Published

1 week ago

October 1, 2024

Alan Saunders

Cincinnati Bengals guard Max Scharping in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to sign offensive lineman Max Scharping from the Washington Commanders practice squad, according to a report by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

Scharping, 28, was a second-round pick of the Houston Texans in the 2019 NFL draft out of Northern Illinois. He spent his first three seasons with the Texans, immediately becoming a starter at left guard in 2019.

In 2021, he moved over to right guard and was again a start for the third straight season, but Scharping was waived by Houston in August of 2022. He caught on with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played sparingly over the last two seasons as a backup at guard and center.

A 6-foot-6, 325-pound lineman, Max Scharping came into the league with a reputation of being a strong pass protector from his time at NIU. He posted an 8.83 out of 10 Relative Athletic Score at the 2019 NFL Combine.

Because the Steelers are signing Scharping from the Commanders practice squad, they must keep him on their active roster for at least four weeks.

To make room for Scharping on the active roster, the Steelers will likely place starting right guard James Daniels on the injured reserve list. Daniels suffered a torn Achilles during the Steelers’ 27-24 Week 4 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and is out for the remainder of the 2024 season.

With his 79 games of NFL experience, Scharping could start at right guard in place of Daniels, or the Steelers could go with one of their younger players, most likely fourth-round rookie Mason McCormick, who started at left guard on Sunday.

Regular left guard Isaac Seumalo has a chance to return from his preseason pectoral strain this week. He was limited in practice all three days last week. Spencer Anderson is the team’s other top interior offensive line option. He started the first three games at left guard in place of Seumalo before McCormick took his spot, and Anderson replaced Daniels at right guard on Sunday.

Until Seumalo returns, the Steelers will be without five of their top 10 offensive lineman from the start of the season due to injury.