Steelers make several roster moves, including taking James Conner off the COVID List

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off their first loss of the 2020 regular season. The 23-17 loss to the Washington Football Team has a bad taste in everyone’s mouths, but there could be some help on the horizon for the offense.

Wednesday the team announced they have activated James Conner off the Reserve/COVID-19 List, a welcome addition to an offense who has struggled to run the football in the last several games. However, that wasn’t the only transaction the team made Wednesday. In addition to bringing back Conner, the Steelers signed defensive end Cassius Marsh from the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad.

Cassius Marsh fits into the precise definition of an NFL journeyman. The Steelers will be Marsh’s seventh team in his seven seasons in the NFL. Originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by the Seahawks, Marsh spent his first three years in Seattle. Over three seasons, Marsh appeared in 37 games and started one. In his final year with the Seahawks, Marsh had three sacks, five quarterback hits, five tackles for loss, and 22 total tackles along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Marsh played in 15 games in 2017 with nine being in New England and six in San Francisco. In 2018, Marsh played the entire season with the 49ers where he had 3 starts, 5.5 sacks, 14 quarterback hits, and a fumble recovery. In 2019 Marsh played in Arizona all 16 games while starting three and adding another 2.5 sacks. As for 2020, Marsh spent four games with the Jacksonville Jaguars before landing in Indianapolis where he played three games. Listed as a defensive end, Marsh is 6‘ 4“ and 254 pounds. In the Steelers 3-4 scheme, Marsh looks to be a fit at the outside linebacker position.

On top of the signing of Marsh and welcoming back James Conner, the Steelers will also start the 21-day clock on inside linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III, who was placed on injured reserve with a bank injury three weeks ago. The Steelers now have three weeks to activate Gilbert to the active roster, or he will remain on injured reserve for the duration of the regular season.

The Steelers are making moves, and more moves could be made throughout the week. Mike Tomlin spoke about the potential of getting center Maurkice Pouncey off the Reserve/COVID-19 List this week, and that move can be made anytime leading up the Week 14 game on Sunday Night Football against the Bills in Buffalo.

With that said, be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they look to rebound from the horrible loss to Washington on Monday evening.