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Steelers' rookie fourth-round draft pick, nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu, avoided the fate of other Steelers fourth round defensive linemen like Thad Gibson and Ryan McBean.
Sort of.
Both Gibson and McBean were released by the Steelers their rookie seasons, like Ta'amu was last week. Both Gibson and McBean, though, found work pretty much immediately after their releases. Ta'amu found work, just not on an active roster. He cleared waivers and was signed by the Steelers to their practice squad.
Ta'amu wouldn't likely have found any suitors anyway, considering the felony charges he's facing in Pittsburgh, but the fourth-round pick still has an opportunity to get paid to play football.
His development is up to him, really. The Steelers are more or less going out on a limb in keeping him. While he was on the active roster, he and Charlie Batch (the emergency quarterback) are the two Steelers to have yet dress for a game this season despite having been on the active roster since the first game.
The practice squad currently lists eight players, including Ta'amu, and Marshall McFadden's recent tweet indicated he will be brought onto the active roster for Pittsburgh's Week 11 game against Baltimore, meaning another move is likely to be coming.
Want to thank everybody for believing in me! Getting my chance Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens! Definitely want togive the PS boys a S/O
— Marshall McFadden (@MMcFadden5) November 15, 2012
McFadden also indicated he'll wear No. 40 as he did in the preseason.
Cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke has been inactive since Week 8, but it doesn't seem as if his release is imminent. And it's not as if the Steelers' injuries aren't covered; Charlie Batch will dress in place of Ben Roethlisberger and David Gilreath will get Antonio Brown's spot in the event Brown cannot play.
Stevenson Sylvester has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, but he practiced fully on Monday.