Steelers claim healthy defensive back off waivers for training camp

As the injuries to DeMarcus Van Dyke, Terry Hawthorne and Cortez Allen continue to leave the team thin at the defensive back position, the team is squeezing in healthier men to take the field while they wait.

After signing CB Ryan Steed on Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers have claimed former University of Pittsburgh CB Buddy Jackson off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs. To make room for Jackson, the team waived longsnapper Luke Ingram, an undrafted rookie out of Hawaii.

Jackson has decent size at 6-1, 180 pounds, and his Pitt bio lists his 40-yard dash speed in the 4.3's. He originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts where he spent part of training camp. He landed on the practice squad of the Washington Redskins for the final seven games of 2012. In May of 2013, he was signed to the Chiefs off-season roster; but now he is coming back to Pittsburgh.

Ingram was this year's opposition for Greg Warren, but with three defensive backs and two tight ends already forced out of action, roster spots are at a premium. Warren is consistent and solid, with little reason to need a change.

Jackson will now be competing with Steed, Isaiah Green, Josh Victorian and Curtis Brown to fill out the DB depth chart until Allen, Hawthorne and possibly Van Dyke can return.