Steelers CB Kalon Barnes Clears Waivers, Reverts to Injured Reserve

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Kalon Barnes has cleared waivers and reverted to the team's injured reserve list.

Pittsburgh Steelers CB Kalon Barnes
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Kalon Barnes at practice on July 25, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Kalon Barnes has cleared waivers after the team waived him on Monday with an injury designation.

Barnes suffered a quad injury during the team’s training camp practice at St. Vincent College on Sunday and he missed practice on Monday before being waived later in the day.

Because he cleared waivers, he will now revert to the injured reserve list at a reduced salary. The Steelers have five days to reach an injury settlement with Barnes, which seems likely, as quad injuries are rarely season-ending.

If the Steelers do not reach an injury settlement with Barnes, he will stay on the team’s injured reserve list for the remainder of the season and the club will maintain his rights for the 2025 season as an exclusive rights free agent.

Barnes, 25, is in his third professional season out of Baylor. The 6-foot, 186-pound cornerback ran the fastest time in the history of the NFL Combine for a cornerback coming out of college, running a 4.23-second 40-yard dash.

The Silsbee, Texas native has yet to make an impact at the NFL level. He bounced from the Carolina Panthers, who took him in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, to the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings, playing two games with Minnesota before signing with the Steelers for the first time in September 2023.

He spent just one week on the team’s practice squad last season, and later spent time with the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns before the Steelers re-signed him in January to a future contract for the 2024 season.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT

Player Injury Date  Prognosis Roster Status
CB Kalon Barnes Quad  Aug. 11  TBD Injured reserve
WR Tarik Black Hamstring Aug. 11  TBD Waived/injured
OT Troy Fautanu Left MCL sprain Aug. 9 Two weeks Active, DNP on Mon.
NT Keeanu Benton Right eye Aug. 9 TBD Active, DNP on Mon.
NT Breiden Fehoko Arm/shoulder Aug. 7 TBD Injured reserve
S Nate Meadors Hamstring Aug. 6 TBD Injured reserve
OLB Alex Highsmith Groin Aug. 6 TBD Active, DNP on Mon.
OLB David Perales Torn left MCL July 31 Months Injured reserve 
WR Roman Wilson Left ankle sprain July 30 Week to week Active, DNP on Mon.
DT Dean Lowry Right calf June Healthy Active, FP on Mon.
RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson Left hamstring Unknown Healthy Active, FP on Mon.
ILB Cole Holcomb Left knee Nov. 2, 2023 TBD Physically unable to perform
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