Steelers Signing Veteran QB To Back Up Russell Wilson, Justin Fields
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 18: Kyle Allen #8 of the Washington Football Team looks to pass against the New York Giants during their NFL game at MetLife Stadium on October 18, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers added their third quarterback this offseason.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan told reporters Monday that they signed Kyle Allen as a third-string option behind Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. They also added defensive lineman Dean Lowry.
Allen spent the 2023 season backing up another Allen for the Buffalo Bills. The Steelers and Bills effectively swapped backup quarterbacks with Allen going to Pittsburgh after Buffalo brought back Mitchell Trubisky.
Longtime understudy Mason Rudolph signed with the Tennessee Titans after leading Pittsburgh into the playoffs with three straight wins.
The Steelers have already made three more significant quarterback moves. After signing Wilson, they traded Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles and acquired Fields from the Chicago Bears.
Khan said he wasn't expecting to add both quarterbacks this offseason.
"If you would have told me a month ago in Indy that we'd be here and Russell Wilson and Justin Fields would be our quarterbacks, I'd say, I'd be a little bit surprised," Khan said, per Steelers.com's Dale Lolley.
Meanwhile, head coach Mike Tomlin said Wilson has the "pole position" for the starting job. He's open to competition, but don't anticipate Allen factoring into that battle.
The former undrafted free agent spent the last four seasons with three teams after receiving a prolonged starting opportunity for the Carolina Panthers in 2019. Allen registered an 80.0 quarterback rating with 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 13 games.
After making two starts for the Houston Texans in 2022, Allen didn't throw a single pass for Buffalo last season. The 28-year-old can give the Steelers an emergency third-string quarterback in 2024.
