Steelers Place FS Sean Davis on IR, Sign QB Paxton Lynch to Practice Squad

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers placed safety Sean Davis on the injured and added quarterback Paxton Lynch to the practice squad on Tuesday, while making room on the roster for defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was acquired in a trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night.

Davis, 25, started at free safety in the Steelers’ Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and suffered a shoulder injury on a stiff arm by Seahawks win receiver DK Metcalf in the third quarter. He briefly returned before leaving the game for good.

Davis had missed the Steelers’ season opener against the New England Patriots with an ankle injury. He was replaced both times by first-year safety Kameron Kelly. Davis must remain on the injured receiver for at least eight weeks before being reactivated.

Fitzpatrick has played both safety and cornerback in his career, and will almost certainly take Davis’ spot in the base defense.

Lynch, 25, was a first-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2016 and spent three seasons in Denver before being released last September. He was in training camp with the Seattle Seahawks this summer.

The Steelers have just two quarterbacks available for practice after Ben Roethlisberger was placed on injured reserve and Devlin Hodges was promoted to the active roster on Monday. Mason Rudolph is expected to start.

Lynch has played in five career games and started four. He’s 79 for 128 (61.7%), 792 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. In three preseason games with the Seahawks this year, he was 98 of 37 for 180 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions.

The Steelers have traditionally kept three quarterbacks on their active roster, but kept just one after trading backup Josh Dobbs to the Jacksonville Jaguars after Week 1.