Steelers Sign Former Colts Linebacker After Big Injury To Chapelle Russell

When the Pittsburgh Steelers faced off against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12 of the 2022 season, they had no idea that they would be seeing a player that would wear the black and gold in the future. Former Colts linebacker, Forrest Rhyne made his NFL debut in a late-November 2022 clash between the Steelers and Colts, but didn't get into the statistics column. Now, with a full season of learning under his belt, the Steelers have signed Rhyne after linebacker Chapelle Russell was waived with an injury after the first preseason game of 2023.

Steelers Saw Flashes In Russell Prior To Injury

The name of the game during the 2023 offseason was to bring depth and competition to the Steelers, and that is precisely what has happened. One of those areas that was tagged for an overhaul was the linebacker spot, where newcomers like Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander were brought in. After the failed Myles Jack signing in 2022 and the continued disappointment from Devin Bush, linebacker was a position that became a prime area for the franchise to focus on.

Russell, who spent 2022 on the Steelers practice squad, had been showing the coaching staff that he was worth considering for the final 2023 53-man roster. The 26-year-old linebacker had been drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but never broke through during his rookie year. After spending 2021 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, tallying only ten total tackles, Russell found himself on his third team in his young career when the Steelers made him a part of their 2022 practice squad.

Things were looking up for Russell after turning a few heads during 2023 training camp, but a devastating knee injury in the first half of Pittsburgh's opening 2023 preseason game against the Buccaneers put a sudden halt to the positivity. Russell will now be working on healing from the injury as well as searching for what will be his fourth team.

Steelers Add Linebacker Depth With Rhyne Signing

Every preseason comes with its fair share of injuries, with each organization hoping they don't get hit too hard. The Steelers were met with unfortunate injury news earlier in the 2023 preseason when rookie standout cornerback Corey Trice Jr. was lost for the season. Unfortunately, it was not the last, with Russell being waived from the roster. Needing to fill that linebacker gap, Pittsburgh looked to a former Colts linebacker to address that need.

Rhyne has yet to make his name known in the NFL, being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Colts in 2022. Despite not making a professional impact yet, Rhyne came out of Villanova with a reputation as a proficient tackler who rarely missed. After tallying 310 tackles and 11.5 sacks in his collegiate career, Rhyne was hoping for his tackling prowess to translate into the NFL, and it may yet, but for now, the young athlete is still waiting for his opportunity.

With the Steelers putting so much focus on the linebacker position heading into the 2023 regular season, this may just be the perfect spot for Rhyne to make his mark. He will be surrounded by generational talent in TJ Watt and the growing talent of Alex Highsmith, so if Rhyne is coachable and learns, perhaps 2023 will be known as his breakthrough year.

For now, though, Rhyne will be given every chance to show why he is wearing the black and gold and what is necessary to keep wearing it deep into 2023.

What impact will Rhyne have for the 2023 Steelers? 

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