After talking with Justin Houston, Steelers are preparing to host Melvin Ingram this week

The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for training camp to start this Thursday, but they are far from done making offseason moves preparing for the 2021 regular season.

There are certain positions which scream of a lack of depth, and outside linebacker is one of them. At the time this story is published, the Steelers have the following depth chart at OLB/EDGE:

T.J. Watt
Alex Highsmith
Cassius Marsh
Quincy Roche (R)

That’s it.

Fans have been clamoring for the team to add to the position, and several big name players remain on the open market. Two of those players, Justin Houston and Melvin Ingram, have been reportedly tied to the Steelers.

According to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, the Steelers had talks with Houston, which went nowhere, and are planning on hosting Ingram this week.

There was a time when the biggest concern wasn’t the need at the position, but how they could afford to bring in a player with limited salary cap space available. After David DeCastro’s release, the team now should have plenty of money to bring in a player, even if just for a one year contract.

Speaking specifically of Ingram, he is a player who has had his share of injury troubles in recent years. In 2013 Ingram tore an ACL in his knee, in 2014 he had a tear in his hip joint, in 2019 he had a severe hamstring injury and in 2020 he injured his patellar tendon.

Some of those injuries put Ingram on the shelf for just a few weeks, while others ended his season. The Steelers have to wonder what they will be getting if they decide to pull the trigger on signing Ingram.

Ingram isn’t, and likely won’t be, the only player the team has brought in this offseason. Reports of them hosting safeties Karl Joseph and Malik Hooker made big news, but they haven’t signed any of those players just yet. They did host Trai Turner, and he was signed shortly after DeCastro’s release. Turner is expected to start at right guard this season along the offensive line.

Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the 2021 regular season.