Steelers Notebook: Harris rejoins practice squad
-
The Steelers made defensive lineman Sonny Harris sixth-round pick in 2009.
Share with others:
Sunny Harris began his third tour of duty with the Steelers this week, pulling on the uniform of his third NFL team in a year-and-a-half since he was drafted in the sixth round from Oregon.
The second-year defensive end signed to the practice squad Wednesday after the Steelers lost another player from that squad, defensive end Al Woods, who signed with Tampa Bay.
The Steelers waived Harris after his first training camp in 2009 and intended to sign him to their practice squad. Instead, he signed with Carolina's practice squad, then joined the Panthers' 53-man roster. Carolina released him shortly thereafter, and the Steelers signed Harris to their 53-man roster Oct. 14, 2009, after Aaron Smith went on injured reserve with a torn rotator cuff.
Smith spent training camp with the Steelers this summer but was waived Sept. 4. The Buffalo Bills signed him but waived him Oct. 6.
Defensive end Brett Keisel returned to the practice field after missing the past two games with a hamstring injury. Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he was hopeful Keisel would be able to start Monday night in Cincinnati.
Two backups started at defensive end Sunday in New Orleans: Nick Eason for Keisel and Ziggy Hood for Smith, who is expected to miss most if not all the rest of the regular season.
"I thought Ziggy played well in the game as did Nick Eason," Tomlin said. "They did a nice job. [Hood] was in his gap; he made the necessary plays when they were presented to him. I've been pleased with his performance. And really, it needs to continue and move upward as we proceed."
Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis already has his hands full with two outspoken characters at wide receiver in Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. He did not want to talk about any possibility of adding Randy Moss to the mix.
Moss, waived by Minnesota this week, was claimed by the Tennessee Titans, which will be his third NFL team in a month. The New England Patriots traded the veteran wide receiver to the Vikings for a third-round draft pick.
"I don't want to go on any record comment on Randy Moss," Lewis said when asked about him during a conference call with the Pittsburgh media.
His receivers were talking about Moss, though.
"That was the first one they came in here talking about," Lewis said. "I said, 'Are you guys kidding me?' "
Told he could have had a triple-threat at wide receiver, Lewis said, "Yeah, I know. But which way?"
First Published November 4, 2010 12:36 am
