The Pittsburgh Steelers released outside linebacker Jamir Jones on April 12, following his arrest on a domestic violence charge in Broward County, Florida.
According to court records obtained by Steelers Now, Jones was arrested early on the morning of April 12 at his Fort Lauderdale, Florida home and charged with one count of battery, a first-degree misdemeanor. Jones was released on bond on April 13.
The alleged victim has been in a multi-year relationship with Jones, and is unwilling to participate in the prosecution against him, according to court records. Both parties agreed to waive a condition of his bail that prohibited him from being in contact with the victim in a hearing on April 20.
Jones pled not guilty and requested a trial. No further hearings are scheduled in the case at this time. In addition to the criminal proceeding, Jones faces a potential six-game suspension from the NFL as part of the league’s personal conduct policy for domestic violence.
The arrest likely explains Jones’ release from the team, which had come as a surprise. The Steelers re-signed him to a one-year contract for the 2023 season on Feb. 27, securing his services as an exclusive-rights free agent.
The 24-year-old had been the team’s fourth outside linebacker in 2022 and with No. 3 Malik Reed not re-signed, seemed poised to reprise that role in 2023.
A Rochester, New York native and Notre Dame alum, Jones first joined the Steelers during training camp in 2021 after a short stint with the Houston Texans in 2020. After he made the team to start the season, the Steelers put him on waivers after three weeks with the intention of signing him to their practice squad, but he was claimed by the Los Angeles Rams.
Jones played 10 games with the Rams before being waived again and claimed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played two 2021 games in Jacksonville and spent most of the 2022 offseason with the Jaguars, but the Steelers re-claimed him on waivers on Sept. 1, 2022.
Back with Pittsburgh last season, Jones settled in as the team’s No. 4 outside linebacker behind starters T.J Watt and Alex Highsmith and backup Malik Reed. He played in all 17 games, making 10 tackles and breaking up one pass. Jones also played on 57% of the Steelers’ special teams snaps for the season.
With Reed departed via free agency and now Jones released, the Steelers top backups at outside linebacker are fourth-round rookie Nick Herbig, Quincy Roche and Emeke Egbule. Second-year defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal can also play outside linebacker.