Steelers Get Back Two Key Special Teams Players
The Pittsburgh Steelers have activated linebacker Tyler Matakevich and wide receiver Ben Skowronek from the reserve/injured list to the 53-man roster for Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders, the team announced on Saturday afternoon. Both players are core special teams contributors.
Matakevich has been out since Sept. 15 with a hamstring injury. A variety of players have replaced his production on the Steelers special teams unit, including Jeremiah Moon and Rodney Williams. Williams was released earlier this week. If Matakevich wasn’t reinstated from the injured reserve list on Saturday, he would have spent the rest of the season on the IR.
Matakevich had two tackles over the first two games to lead all Steelers special teamers. He had played 36 snaps over two games, all on special teams. In addition to punt coverage, he also worked on punt return, kick coverage and kick return units.
The 31-year-old returned to Pittsburgh this summer after spending the previous four seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He was originally a seventh-round draft pick of the Steelers out of Temple in 2016.
Skowronek has been out since suffering a shoulder injury in Week 2. He just returned to practice this week, and was a full participant all three days. In two games, Skowronek was not targeted and played in just six snaps of offense, though the 6-foot-3, 224-pound receiver can used a blocker more than some of the Steelers’ smaller depth wide receiver options.
In his first two games before the injury, Skowronek played on kickoff, kick return and punt coverage units, specifically working as a punt gunner. Terrell Edmunds and James Pierre have since filled that roles. Edmunds was released by the Steelers on Saturday, however.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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