Steelers activate Ulysees Gilbert, place Robert Spillane on IR

The Pittsburgh Steelers have made several roster moves to bolster their inside linebacker position ahead of their Week 14 game against the Buffalo Bills. The Steelers have activated Ulysees Gilbert III from the Reserve/Injured List and placed Robert Spillane on IR. Additionally, the Steelers have elevated linebacker Tegray Scales to the active roster for Sunday’s game.

Placed on the Reserve/Injured List on November 4, Ulysees Gilbert has only appeared in two games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. Between being inactive for the Steelers first three games of the season as well as in Week 6, Gilbert missed the Steelers Week 8 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens due to a back injury. In his rookie campaign in 2019, Gilbert was placed on IR following the Steelers Week 9 game also with a back injury. Although he was eligible to return from the Reserve/Injured List after three weeks, it was after five weeks when the Steelers had Gilbert begin practice this past Wednesday.

To make room on the roster for Gilbert, the Steelers have placed linebacker Robert Spillane on the Reserve/Injured List. Spillane will spend at least three weeks on the list but will be eligible to return prior to Week 17 should he be ready. Filling in on the Steelers defense since the injury to Devin Bush, Spillane has 42 tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception returnEd for a touchdown on the season.

Even with the addition of Gilbert for the Steelers, they were still thin at the linebacker position due to Vince Williams going on the Reserve/COVID-19 List. Therefore, Tegray Scales was elevated from the practice squad.

Scales joined the Steelers practice squad on November 11. Undrafted in 2018 out of the University of Indiana, Scales signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams but failed to make the team or the practice squad in 2018. In December of the 2018 season, Scales landed on the Indianapolis Colts practice squad for two weeks. Following the 2018 season, Scales signed a futures contract with the Steelers and spent all of the 2019 training camp with Pittsburgh. Scales did not make the team or the practice squad.

Following the 2019 season, Scales played in the XFL as a member of the Dallas Renegades. In five games, Scales had 24 tackles and a sack.

Earlier this season, Scales was on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad for Weeks 6 and 7 before being released.

Stay tuned to BTSC for continued coverage as the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to take on the Bills this Sunday night in Buffalo.