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Steelers Free Agent WR Steven Sims to Visit Texans

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Steelers WR Steven Sims

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Steven Sims, who was the team’s starting slot man for most of the 2022 season, will visit with the Houston Texans as a free agent, according to a report by Aaron Wilson of KPRC Houston.

The 25-year-old Sims is a Houston native. He had been a restricted free agent, but the Steelers chose not to tender him a contract, which would have been worth $2.6 million and guaranteed for 2023.

Sims came to the Steelers as part of the team’s practice squad in 2021 after two seasons with the Washington Football Team. He played in just one game in 2021, but got a much bigger opportunity in 2022, first when he leapfrogged Gunner Olszewski early in the season to become the team’s primary kick and punt returner, and then after the trade of Chase Claypool, when he became the primary slot receiver.

Related: Steven Sims Takes Over Slot Role From Chase Claypool

Sims ended up playing 34% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps. He finished eighth on the team with 14 catches for 104 yards on 23 targets. He added 19 punt returns for 105 yards and 17 kick returns for 435 yards to give him 713 all-purpose yards, which was fifth on the team.

The Steelers have three internal options at slot receiver, included Olszewski and two players that missed the 2022 season with injury: Anthony Miller and Calvin Austin III.

Miller also joined the Steelers in 2021 and had a strong 2022 training camp before a preseason injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season. The Steelers re-signed Miller to a one-year contract for 2023 earlier this offseason

Austin was the team’s fourth-round draft pick out of Memphis in 2022. The undersized speedster suffered a Lisfranc sprain in the preseason and was unable to return to action last year.

Because the Steelers did not tender him a contract, they will not be eligible for draft pick compensation if Sims signs with another team.