Reports: Steelers Trade for New York Jets ILB Avery Williamson

The Steelers have acquired New York Jets inside linebacker Avery Williamson in a trade, according to multiple media reports.


Williamson, 28, will come to the Steelers along with the Jets’ seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft in exchange for the Steelers’ fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, according to ESPN.

A 6-foot-1, 246-pound native of Cleveland, Ohio, Williamson was originally a fifth-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans out of Kentucky in 2014. He spent four seasons with the Titans before signing a free agent contract with the Jets in 2018.

He started all 16 games in three straight games from 2016-18 before he tore his ACL in the 2019 preseason, causing him to miss all of last season. Williamson started five games for the Jets so far this season, and made 50 tackles, defended three passes and had one interception.

He is due the remainder of his $4.75 million salary this season and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.

The Steelers lost starting inside linebacker Devin Bush for the season to an ACL injury in the team’s Week 6 win over the Cleveland Browns. Backup Ulysees Gilbert III was injured in practice this week and did not dress against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Robert Spillane has started each of the Steelers’ last two games in place of Bush at inside linebacker and intercepted Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and returned it for a touchdown on Sunday.