Steelers Place Punter Cam Johnston on IR
The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed punter Cam Johnston on injured reserve, the team announced on Tuesday. In a related move, the Steelers signed safety Terrell Edmunds to the active roster off the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad.
Johnston will be out for the season with a right knee injury, according to Alan Saunders of Steelers Now, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Mike Tomlin confirmed during his Tuesday press conference that Johnston will be out for the year and has a knee surgery scheduled.
“I’m disappointed for him. This guy has been spectacular for us,” Tomlin said. “As impressive as his punting is his professionalism and approach to business.”
Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge hit Johnston low following a punt late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game. Johnston’s right leg extended backwards, and it did not look good. He left on a cart and did not return.
“Cam Johnston appears to have a serious injury,” Tomlin said after the game. “I’ll have an update the next time we come together. It’s a shame for him. This guy has been spectacular through team development. He’s an absolute stud not only in his talents but his approach to business. My heart goes out to him.”
Miles Killebrew was called for holding on the play that Johnson suffered the injury, so the Steelers had to punt again. Kicker Chris Boswell, who was 6 of 6 on the day on field goal attempts, replaced Johnston at punter and punted a 43-yard line drive that resulted in no gain on Avery Williams’ return. Scotty Miller made a great special teams tackle on the play.
After losing Johnston to a season-ending injury, the Steelers signed punter Corliss Waitman.
Waitman, 29, will be on his third stint with the Steelers. Pittsburgh originally signed him as an undrafted free agent out of South Alabama in 2020. He spent parts of the 2020 and 2021 seasons with Pittsburgh, playing two games in 2021.
In those two games, he kicked seven times, averaging 52.1 yards per punt and 42.6 net yards per kick, with a long punt of 63 yards. He had one go for a touchback and one downed inside the 20-yard line.
The Steelers waived Waitman after Pressley Harvin III returned from bereavement leave, and he was claimed by the Denver Broncos. Waitman spent the entire 2022 season in Denver as their primary punter, leading the NFL with 96 punts. He maintained a 46.6 gross and 41.4 net average.
A free agent the following year, Waitman signed with the New England Patriots, and he spent time on their practice squad last season. He had been with the Bears earlier this offseason but was released at the end of August.
Waitman has familiarity with Steelers kicker Chris Boswell, having worked with him for two seasons as the Steelers backup holder, and two games as his primary holder in 2021.
A native of Ghent, Belgium, Waitman spent four years at South Alabama. He transferred to Mississippi State for his redshirt senior year in 2019, but was ruled ineligible by the NCAA.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting for this story.
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