The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed another former Atlanta Falcons player, this time on defense. Willington Previlon, a defensive tackle, was claimed off waivers, as reported by Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora on June 21. Previlon, who has never played for former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, adds depth to the Steelers’ defensive line.
Previlon, undrafted in 2020, had previous stints with the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Dallas Cowboys but has never played in a regular-season game. He played college football at Rutgers, where he recorded 71 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and 3 pass defenses. Despite being labeled as “undersized,” he was praised for his explosiveness, versatility, and potential for growth.
This move brings the Steelers’ offseason roster back to full strength and bolsters their defensive line. Previlon joins a roster that already includes eight defensive tackles, including veterans like Cameron Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi, who split their snaps between defensive tackle and defensive end in 2023.
In addition to Previlon, the Steelers also signed wide receiver Jacob Copeland to a one-year contract. Copeland returns to the Steelers after spending most of the 2023 season on the practice squad. Like Previlon, Copeland has yet to play in a regular-season NFL game and began his career as an undrafted free agent. With the signing of Copeland, the Steelers now have 11 receivers on their roster.
These signings bring the Steelers’ roster back to 91 players, with Previlon and Copeland replacing wide receiver Denzel Mims and safety Trenton Thompson, who were recently released. The Steelers are allowed to exceed the usual 90-player limit because rookie outside linebacker Julian Welschof is part of the NFL’s international players program and is exempt from counting toward the roster.
These moves continue the trend of the Steelers adding former Falcons players this offseason, with a focus on bolstering both their offense and defense.
Leave a Reply