Steelers ILB Leaves Game vs. Tampa with Knee Injury

TAMPA, Florida — Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Chapelle Russell II left the team’s first preseason game of the 2023 season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday.

Russell was injured covering a kickoff in the second quarter and was taken to the Pittsburgh locker room for evaluation. The team announced that he will not return after suffering a knee injury.

Russell has been impressive in his first training camp with the Steelers after joining the club in September last year. He was appearing in his first game in black and gold after spending all of 2022 on the practice squad.

Russell played 11 games for the Buccaneers in 2020 after they drafted him in the seventh round. He played in 16 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 before spending 2022 on the Steelers practice squad.

Russell has been working with Mark Robinson, Tanner Muse and Nick Kwiatkoski, behind the first group of inside linebackers that includes Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts and Kwon Alexander.

Russell is the first Steelers player to leave Friday’s game with injury.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (ankle), safeties Keanu Neal (undisclosed), Tre Norwood (calf) and Damontae Kazee (ankle), and running back John Lovett (undisclosed) all did not dress for the game. Outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hip flexor) dressed but did not play in the first half.

Alan Saunders provided reporting from Tampa.