Steelers Add Familiar Face To Defensive Line Depth Chart After Recent Plague Of Injuries

The Pittsburgh Steelers likely have a handful of "bubble" players on speed-dial throughout training camp. Some guys always seem like they are on the cusp of making the roster, so they get called upon when injuries pile up. Recently, Pittsburgh lost three defensive linemen to knee issues, including Dean Lowry. There is no word on how severe they are just yet. At this point, it feels like the team needs bodies to work with the second and third-team defense. The Steelers signed more than just a camp body, however. They signed a veteran that knows the system. 

The announcement came via the player himself, as defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko posted on X that he is signing with the Steelers once again. 

Fehoko has spent 2023 and 2024 on the Steelers' practice squad after a three-year stint with the Los Angeles Chargers. In Los Angeles, he appeared in 19 games, including four starts. He has racked up 36 total tackles in his career, and he is looking to prove that he can do more than that, so he can get a chance to stick on the Steelers' 53-man roster finally. 

He will definitely have a window of opportunity with all the injuries on the defensive line, as well as the recent influx of youth. Captain Cameron Heyward is one of very few long-time veterans in the position group, so the coaching staff would likely be happy with having another veteran stick around for the entire 2025 season. Lowry was another veteran expected to make it past the final cuts, but that status is now up in the air.

The injuries are not the only thing giving Fehoko a chance here. The Steelers' defensive line depth was already rough before the injuries piled up, and now it's even worse. It appears to be a very top-heavy unit, depending on how well rookie Derrick Harmon plays. Outside of that, there is a lot to be desired from the collective unit. A little bit of veteran presence from a familiar face is surely welcomed.

Steelers Have Been Looking For Better Performances From Their Defensive Line

Obviously, the 2024 season did not end the way the Steelers had hoped, as they routinely lost in the trenches late in the season. That failure forced a positional overhaul, including two rookie defensive linemen getting drafted together. That kind of end-of-year performance is absolutely unacceptable, and everyone knows it. It's time to get bigger, stronger, and meaner together, and that was what they went for in the 2025 offseason.

So far, early returns have been great from training camp, although it's unclear if the defensive line is performing that well, the offensive line is performing that poorly, or a little bit of both. Either way, the first-team unit seems to be doing its job well. More depth is never a bad thing, however, and that's why Fehoko was brought back. They could really use someone like him holding down the fort for the backups. 

This will be a unique camp competition for Fehoko, as he will be competing against Logan Lee, who was essentially red-shirted in 2024, DeMarvin Leal, who has positional flexibility, and then more of the typical bubble players.  Outside of the three projected starters and rookie Yahya Black, nobody's job is safe and secure. There are many bones for all the dogs to fight for.

The roster move to free up a spot for Fehoko is to be determined, but the most likely scenario is one of the three injured defensive linemen either going on injured reserve or getting released with an injury settlement. 

What do you think about Fehoko coming back to Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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