OLB Reed eager for chance
New Steelers outside linebacker Malik Reed was caught up in a numbers game with the Denver Broncos. Despite registering 15 sacks since entering the NFL in 2019, including 13 in the past two seasons, Reed was behind Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory on the depth chart heading into the regular season.
Gregory was Denver’s big free-agent splurge of the offseason, signing a five-year deal worth $ 70 million. Chubb was the Broncos’ firstround pick in 2018, and they selected Nik Bonitto in the second round of this year’s draft.
That left Reed, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Nevada, as the odd man out under new head coach Nathaniel Hackett.
“They had a lot of guys in that room,” said Reed, who started 34 games for the Broncos over the past three seasons. “I was coming up on the end of my contract. It’s understandable. I understand the business and how it works. I’m just glad to be a Steeler.”
Reed walks into a situation with the Steelers where his presence is much needed. T. J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are the starters, but the Steelers have been searching for a quality top reserve at the position since the beginning of last season.
Melvin Ingram was signed to a one-year deal last July to fill the role, but he forced his way out of town by early November. Ingram believed he should be starting, but the Steelers had no plans to slow the progress of Highsmith in his first season as a starter.
Reed enters the picture in a similar circumstance. Like Ingram, he’s on a one-year contract, although he is making $2.3 million compared to the $4 million Ingram signed for last summer.
“My agent and I talked about the situation and what it would be,” said Reed, who has more sacks than Ingram since entering the league in 2019. “We didn’t talk about what role it would be, but I just want to come in and be a presence and have an impact.”
Highsmith is coming off a shortened training camp due to a rib injury that forced him to miss three weeks of practices and all three preseason games. He hopes to be ready for the season opener in Cincinnati, but Reed gives the Steelers a proven veteran to step in, if needed.
The Steelers tried a number of different players at outside linebacker during training camp, but no one stepped up to seize the No. 3 job. They signed Genard Avery in the spring but cut him in the middle of camp. They took a long look at Hamilcar Rashed for the final two weeks of camp, but he was among the cuts Tuesday afternoon. The only other outside linebacker in addition to Watt and Highsmith to make the initial 53-man roster was Derrek Tuszka.
“I heard there was a lot of interest,” Reed said. “They were reaching out about me. I know the Steelers are a topnotch organization. I know coach (Mike) Tomlin is a topnotch coach. I was more than happy to come here.”
Tuszka played with Reed in Denver for a year before being signed by the Steelers last fall. He said the defense is getting a player with a high motor.
“I was excited to hear that they’re bringing in Malik from Denver because I was there with him for a year, then the preseason of 2021,” Tuszka said. “Great teammate, great guy and great player, so I’m excited to have him here. He’s high energy, high effort. He’s going to give you everything he’s got every play, which is awesome. He’s got a great motor and hustles around the field, which is awesome to watch.”
Reed arrived in Pittsburgh at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. He woke up at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday to get his physical and arrived at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex later in the morning in time to practice with the Steelers for the first time. His first meeting with coaches was going to take place after practice, when he planned to get more insight on how the Steelers want to utilize his talents.
“I’m ready to embrace whatever opportunity I get,” said Reed, who is 26. “I’m here for a reason. I’m here to embrace it, and I’m ready to roll.”