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Before the start of the 2021 regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers knew they needed help at the outside linebacker position. With only Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt as the only experienced outside linebackers on the active roster, the team needed to make an addition. That addition was free agent Melvin Ingram.
The Steelers also approached veteran Justin Houston, but Houston chose the Baltimore Ravens based on the fact he knew he would play more. Ingram took the one-year deal the Steelers offered, but after six games isn’t happy with the amount of playing time he is seeing.
So much so it is being reported the former Chargers pass rusher wants out of Pittsburgh.
Since the rumors began about Ingram potentially being on the way out of Pittsburgh, not much else has come of the rumors. That is, until Thursday. Aditi Kinkhabwala of the NFL Network now reports not only are teams calling about Ingram, but Ingram wants out of Pittsburgh due to lack of playing time,
As @RapSheet reported this weekend, OLB Melvin Ingram does indeed want out of Pittsburgh after seeing a reduction in his playing time. I’m told KC made an offer, but the #Steelers ideally don’t want to send him to an AFC team. Could the #Cardinals make a good trade partner?
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) October 28, 2021
The Kansas City Chiefs are a team in desperate need of pass rushing help, but the Steelers would be wise to be hesitant to ship Ingram to another AFC team. As Kinkhabwala suggests, a team like the Arizona Cardinals could be a possible trade partner if the price is right.
As for Ingram wanting out of Pittsburgh, it would be interesting to know what he was told when he signed with the Steelers. He had to know he would be behind both Highsmith and Watt barring injury.
During Mike Tomlin’s Tuesday press conference he talked about how with Highsmith and Watt both healthy, there are less snaps to go around. That’s football, but Ingram shouldn’t be blamed for wanting to play. The big question is what would the compensation have to be for the Steelers to ship him elsewhere. If the Steelers were to trade Ingram somewhere, it would decimate their depth at the outside linebacker position.
Nothing might come of this story, especially if the Steelers don’t feel any team is providing what they feel is quality compensation for Ingram, but it should be something to keep an eye on as the NFL trade deadline looms. Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the team as they prepare for the Cleveland Browns this Sunday in Week 8.
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