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Player: Shahbaz Ahmed
Position: Guard
School: Temple
Overview: If you're a star player and get nicked up in training camp it's no big deal; the team lets you sit out of some drills, and maybe a preseason game so you can rehab. When you're a guy fighting day in and day out just to make the 53-man roster, the team is not so generous, which is how Shahbaz Ahmed finds himself a member of the Steelers.
Cole Manhart was injured presumably sometime in last week's preseason loss to the Eagles, so the Steelers waived him and brought in Ahmed who was recently waived himself from the Falcons.
Such is life as a bubble player in the NFL. Ahmed played in 12 games last year at guard for Temple, but had spent time before that on the defensive line. Clearly he is going to be a project since he is still learning the position, but he is at least realistic about it, he told Philly.com in an interview that his goal was to sign as an undrafted free agent and prove himself in camp.
Unfortunately, there isn't too much upside for Ahmed, at least in 2016. Besides Manhart, Cody Wallace was also injured against the Eagles, so it's likely the Steelers only got Ahmed to serve as a fill-in until they can get Wallace healthy again. Hopefully Ahmed can show the Steelers enough to have the team take a chance on him as a developmental project.
Strengths:
Dedication to football - switched positions to help his college team
Size- added weight to get up to NFL standard for position
Strength
Weaknesses:
Only played guard for two years now -very raw
Already cut from one team
Likely only a camp body-may not see serious playing time
Chances of Making the team: 10%