Steelers Re-Sign OLB David Anenih to Practice Squad

The Pittsburgh Steelers have re-signed outside linebacker David Anenih to the team’s practice squad, the club announced on Tuesday.

Anenih was released on Saturday, as the Steelers promoted Ryan Anderson from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. He cleared waivers on Monday.

The Steelers originally signed Anenih from the Tennessee Titans practice squad on Sept. 15, after T.J. Watt was placed on injured reserve. Anenih was a healthy scratch for the Steelers next three games before being released in advance of the team’s Week 5 trip to Buffalo.

Anderson and all of the team’s reserve outside linebackers have played minimally even since Watt’s injury. Delontae Scott played in seven and nine snaps as a practice squad elevation in Weeks 2 and 3 before being released. Anderson played in five snaps in Week 4 as a practice squad elevation and three this past week as a member of the 53-man roster.

Even No. 3 outside linebacker Jamir Jones has struggled to find the field, playing a total of 42 snaps over five games. Malik Reed has gotten the lion’s share of the reps at outside linebacker across from Alex Highsmith with Watt out, though defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal played there a good bit against the Bills on Sunday.

Anenih is an undrafted free agent out of Houston. In his career with the Cougars, Anenih racked up 20.5 sacks, 31.5 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles over his five year career. His best season was a breakout 2021 season, where he put up five sacks, ten tackles for loss, and a forced fumble in 14 starts for Houston. He was named a First-Team All-Conference player in the American Athletic Conference.

He initially joined the Titans after going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, and spent the preseason with Tennessee.