PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers claimed outside linebacker Jamir Jones off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team announced on Thursday.
Jones will be in his second stint with the Steelers. He first joined the team last April after spending the 2020 offseason with the Houston Texans. Last preseason, Jones led the Steelers with four sacks in four games and led the NFL with six QB hits and 13 pressures.
After playing in three games with one start, Jones was waived by the Steelers last Sept. 28 and claimed by the Las Angeles Rams. Jones played in 10 games with the Rams, recording five tackles.
The Rams waived Jones on Dec. 25 and he was claimed by the Jaguars. He played the final two games with Jacksonville. This preseason, he had six tackles over four games.
To make room for Jones on the active roster, the Steelers waived outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka. Tuszka joined the Steelers in 2021 after Jones was lost on waivers. He played in the final 15 games of the season with Pittsburgh, recording 18 tackles, one tackle for loss, two quarterback hits and two sacks. Tuszka also played multiple special teams phases for the Steelers.
Jones and Malik Reed, who was acquired in a trade from the Denver Broncos on Tuesday, will serve as the backups to the T.J.Watt and Alex Highsmith. Tuszka will be eligible to join the Steelers practice squad if he clears waivers on Friday.
Hamilcar Rashed is the only outside linebacker on the practice squad at this point.
Jones is playing under a one-year, $825,000 contract. He will be an exclusive rights free agent this March.