Steelers Waive Injured Linebacker, Likely Ending Season

UNITY TWP., Pa. — The Pittsburgh Steelers have waived linebacker Chapelle Russell II with an injury designation, the team announced on Sunday.

Russell appeared to be injured while covering a kickoff in Friday’s preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The linebacker appeared to be having a strong training camp, his first with the team after joining the Steelers last year. He was injured while appearing in his first game in black and gold after spending all of 2022 on the practice squad.

Russell played 11 games for the Buccaneers in 2020 after they drafted him in the seventh round. He played in 16 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 before spending 2022 on the Steelers practice squad.

Fellow inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (shoulder) was also injured in Friday’s game. Russell will be available to be claimed on waivers by every other NFL team. If he clears waivers, he will revert to the Steelers’ injured reserve list.

Him being placed on the injured reserve list before the start of the regular season would likely end his 2023 campaign, though if he is expected to get healthy before the end of the season, the Steelers could release him with an injury settlement and then re-sign him later in the season once healthy. The team did that with running back Master Teague last year.

To replace Russell on the 90-man offseason roster, the Steelers signed former Colts linebacker Forrest Rhyne.