The Steelers announced the signing of swing interior lineman Cody Wallace to a new 3-year contract Wednesday, a day after the eight-year pro hit free agency.
Wallace filled in for injured center Fernando Velasco over the Steelers' final four games, helping power some of their best running performances of the season. He was impressive in those games, as well, as the Steelers won three of the four, and narrowly missed qualifying for the postseason.
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His greatest value is as a position-flexible interior lineman, but he showed enough at center to think the Steelers would rather have him with the ability to play guard than Fernando Velasco, who seems most at home at center specifically. Both players were free agents as of Tuesday.
Pouncey should return to the field in May's minicamps, but Wallace gives the Steelers a solid back-up option, should Pouncey's rehabilitation go south.
Wallace started the first game of his seven-year career in Week 14, a loss to the Miami Dolphins. Wallace earned notoriety in that game for appearing to grab the nether regions of Dolphins defensive tackle Randy Starks while the pair were fighting for a fumble. Wallace was fined for the incident.