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The Pittsburgh Steelers have reached an injury settlement with tight end Xavier Grimble. Placed on the Reserved/Injured List before Week 4, Grimble has now been released and is free to sign anywhere in the NFL.
Steelers release TE Xavier Grimble (injury settlement/calf) per league transactions. No mention of it on any of Steelers team platforms. Strange the team didn’t make mention of it considering he’s been with them since 2016 and signed a $2M RFA in March.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) October 5, 2019
Undrafted out of the University of Southern California in 2014, Grimble spent his first training camp with the New York Giants. Upon his release, Grimble spent time on the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers the New England Patriots his rookie season. In 49ers training camp in 2015, Grimble was cut before Week 1 and the Steelers added him to their practice squad.
Grimble appeared in 13 games in 2016 catching 11 balls for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Used primarily as the third tight end option, Grimble was promoted to the second spot in 2019 with the departure of Jesse James to the Detroit Lions. But with rookie Zach Gentry getting time on the field along with the trade for Nick Vannett from the Seattle Seahawks, Grimble’s time in the Steel City came to an end.
The details behind Grimble going on Injured Reserve were quite cloudy as the previous day he made statements about being ready to step up should Vance McDonald be unable to take the field. He had left the game early against the San Francisco 49ers, but his injury was not even serious enough for Coach Tomlin to mention in the post game press conference. After the trade for Vennett, Grimble’s roster spot became expendable.
In his four years in Pittsburgh, Grimble finishes with 23 catches for 239 yards and three touchdowns.