Steelers Place TE Xavier Grimble on Injured Reserve

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers placed tight end Xavier Grimble on injured reserve on with a calf injury Wednesday afternoon, making space on the roster for newly acquired tight end Nate Vannett.

Grimble, 27, was injured in the second half of the Steelers’ 24-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, in a game that also saw starter Vance McDonald go down with an injury.

The Steelers acquired Vannett on Tuesday from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

In his fourth year with the Steelers, Grimble caught one pass for three yards over the first three games. He has 23 catches on 41 targets for 239 yards over his Pittsburgh career.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Wednesday that he’s optimistic that McDonald will be able to play on Monday night, but that he may be limited in what he’s able to do.

Grimble is eligible to return to play this season, but must spend eight weeks on inured reserve. signed a one-year, $2.025-million contract as a restricted free agent this offseason and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.