Steelers Bring Back Twice-Released Edge Rusher
The Pittsburgh Steelers have re-signed outside linebacker Ade Ogundeji for a third time after releasing him twice.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have re-signed promising outside linebacker Ade Ogundeji, the team announced on Thursday.
Ogundeji has been bouncing back and forth between the team’s active roster and practice squad for weeks now, as a number of injuries at the outside linebacker position.
The Steelers originally signed Ogundeji to their practice squad on Aug. 30, and he was promoted to the active roster on Oct. 12, as the team was dealing with injuries to both Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig at outside linebacker. That started a series of back-and-forth roster moves for the Notre Dame product.
Ogundeji was waived on Oct. 14, re-signed to the practice squad on Oct. 16, promoted to the active roster once again on Oct. 19 and waived for a second time on Oct. 29.
Despite the number of transactions, Ogundeji played each of the last three Steelers games. He played in 25 snaps against the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 13, recording one pass defended. He also played in each of the last two games against the New York Jets and Giants, on both defense and special teams.
“I’m just gonna go out there and play hard,” Ogundeji said earlier this month. “I’ve played in the league. I have some experience. I’ve started in the league. I know what to understand. I’m really good in the run game. I’m good trying to get up the field in the pass game and then just understanding and being a smart player. That’s something I’ve always held my hat on.”
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Highsmith has returned from his injury, and with Nick Herbig expected to return on the other side of the team’s Week 9 bye, Ogundeji was no longer needed on the 53-man roster, but he remains a valued depth piece for the Steelers.
A 6-foot-4, 268-pound edge rusher, Ogundeji first joined the Atlanta Falcons as a fifth-round draft pick out of Notre Dame in 2021. Ogundeji immediately became a regular in Atlanta, starting 11 games in his rookie season in 2021 and 16 games in 2022. Last season, he missed the entire year due to foot and ankle injuries and Ogundeji was released by the Falcons on May 16.
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